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Leif the Lucky #1
Starman's Saga: The Long, Strange Journey of Leif The Lucky
In the year 2069, humanity’s last chance for peace is the first ever interstellar mission. A multi-national crew of the most talented scientists and pilots has been chosen based on their expertise and skill. The final spot aboard the craft is assigned as a prize in a global “BerthRight” lottery, and Leif Grettison is the “everyman volunteer” who won.
However, Leif isn’t really an “everyman.” He’s a helicopter paramedic, a lab tech and a former army ranger who fought in The Troubles – a decade plus war that brought the world to the brink of apocalypse. He’s the perfect brawn to the brains aboard the ship and quickly finds himself playing the role of security and handyman as the crew begins to fragment and divide by country, just as they had during the war.
Little is known about the world circling the distant star that is the target for the voyage and the journey will take almost fourteen years, Earth-time, each way. To deal with the unexpected, the crew has the finest equipment and the planners believe they have thought of everything. However, when you believe you have thought of everything, the universe has a way of showing that you haven’t.
What do you do when it goes wrong, when you can’t call for help, and when adventure leads to deaths?
“A vigorous, intelligent reworking of familiar SF elements…” – Kirkus Reviews
“Colin Alexander has a fun tale of a Starman’s Saga… This one kept me up till 2:30 in the morning.” – Philadelphia Free Press
However, Leif isn’t really an “everyman.” He’s a helicopter paramedic, a lab tech and a former army ranger who fought in The Troubles – a decade plus war that brought the world to the brink of apocalypse. He’s the perfect brawn to the brains aboard the ship and quickly finds himself playing the role of security and handyman as the crew begins to fragment and divide by country, just as they had during the war.
Little is known about the world circling the distant star that is the target for the voyage and the journey will take almost fourteen years, Earth-time, each way. To deal with the unexpected, the crew has the finest equipment and the planners believe they have thought of everything. However, when you believe you have thought of everything, the universe has a way of showing that you haven’t.
What do you do when it goes wrong, when you can’t call for help, and when adventure leads to deaths?
“A vigorous, intelligent reworking of familiar SF elements…” – Kirkus Reviews
“Colin Alexander has a fun tale of a Starman’s Saga… This one kept me up till 2:30 in the morning.” – Philadelphia Free Press
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2020
493 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Colin Alexander
12 books42 followersColin Alexander is a writer of science fiction and fantasy. Actually, Colin Alexander is the pseudonym for Alton Kremer, maybe his alter ego, or who he would have been if he hadn't been a physician and biochemist and had a career as a medical researcher. His most recent book, The Secret of the Martian Girl, is his eleventh and the fifth of the Leif the Lucky novels. Colin is an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. Away from writing fiction, his idea of relaxation is martial arts (taekwondo and minna jiu jitsu). He lives in Maine with his wife. His books are available on Amazon in print and e-book formats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 8, 2023
The Starman's Saga follows Leif Grettison into another solar system where a group of scientists research a new planet that could be the next Earth. We follow Lief Grettison from winning a random selection to be on this mission in 2069, to getting to the new planet and surviving, and finally back to Earth in 2097.
Honestly, this book was set up to be pretty great and it fell short.
The characters were not fleshed out to me. They all seemed to be caricatures of their nationality. There was hardly any dialogue that did not involve some dig at another character's country. No one got along and it was annoying. It got to the point where I think the author just didn't bother to research anything outside of American culture. Furthermore, Leif is selected for this mission but conveniently finds himself in charge of everyone. Even some NASA officials immediately turn to him and give him power in situations where even he admits he has no expertise in.
The most annoying thing was the world building, or lack thereof. I think a ten year old could be more inventive on what could happen 50 years from now. In 2069, 50 years from the publication date, the only innovations we've made are traveling outside of our solar system. Politics 50 years from now are somehow incredibly similar to now. No progress has been made on public relations. Mainly Russia, the US, and China are the major players. No one else really exists. Now, in 2097, the politics are the same! Russia, the US, and China are still major world powers and we are somehow at peace. The technology we've gained in 28 years? We have phones in our eyes and we colonized multiple planets, inside and outside our solar system. Come on, this makes no sense.
Overall, this is a good read for people who don't want intricate details on space travel. With some suspension of belief, it's not too bad of a read. I just thought it could have achieved much more and I'm disappointed it didn't live up to its potential.
2.5/5
Honestly, this book was set up to be pretty great and it fell short.
The characters were not fleshed out to me. They all seemed to be caricatures of their nationality. There was hardly any dialogue that did not involve some dig at another character's country. No one got along and it was annoying. It got to the point where I think the author just didn't bother to research anything outside of American culture. Furthermore, Leif is selected for this mission but conveniently finds himself in charge of everyone. Even some NASA officials immediately turn to him and give him power in situations where even he admits he has no expertise in.
The most annoying thing was the world building, or lack thereof. I think a ten year old could be more inventive on what could happen 50 years from now. In 2069, 50 years from the publication date, the only innovations we've made are traveling outside of our solar system. Politics 50 years from now are somehow incredibly similar to now. No progress has been made on public relations. Mainly Russia, the US, and China are the major players. No one else really exists. Now, in 2097, the politics are the same! Russia, the US, and China are still major world powers and we are somehow at peace. The technology we've gained in 28 years? We have phones in our eyes and we colonized multiple planets, inside and outside our solar system. Come on, this makes no sense.
Overall, this is a good read for people who don't want intricate details on space travel. With some suspension of belief, it's not too bad of a read. I just thought it could have achieved much more and I'm disappointed it didn't live up to its potential.
2.5/5
January 20, 2024
DNF, bailing at 22%. There are too many fail points for me. Younger me might've pushed through, but that was decades ago. No more. And I'm disappointed. I enjoyed the setup, up until he decides to go.
Nothing feels right from then on. The descriptions are not great. The interactions are too much like high school cliques. I get there are still tensions, but come on. I am well and truly tired of political conflicts, but fictional ones should make more sense. Fictional ones have one person calling the shots.
And the main character. He goes through actions and has an observation or two, but there is nothing compelling about a two-dimensional creation where a person's supposed to be. He magically adjusts to freefall movement. There's very little of the realities of working in space.
I don't know what the five star people were reading. It wasn't what I read.
Nothing feels right from then on. The descriptions are not great. The interactions are too much like high school cliques. I get there are still tensions, but come on. I am well and truly tired of political conflicts, but fictional ones should make more sense. Fictional ones have one person calling the shots.
And the main character. He goes through actions and has an observation or two, but there is nothing compelling about a two-dimensional creation where a person's supposed to be. He magically adjusts to freefall movement. There's very little of the realities of working in space.
I don't know what the five star people were reading. It wasn't what I read.
May 5, 2021
This is the type of book that makes me love science fiction. I loved all of it. The author spent just the right amount of time on each part of the story. I never got bored and was really fully immersed in the story the whole time so the writing was really good.
December 24, 2019
This book will not change your life. This book will not provide you with any insights into the human condition.
This book was great. I loved it. It was a page turner and I could not put it down.
Leif is a Ranger in the infantry and the sole survivor of a horrific battle. A few years after the war he wins a seat on a starship that looks like a shaving can and is headed out to colonize a planet. The story centers around his dealings with the crew and the terrors that live on the new planet.
This book was great. I loved it. It was a page turner and I could not put it down.
Leif is a Ranger in the infantry and the sole survivor of a horrific battle. A few years after the war he wins a seat on a starship that looks like a shaving can and is headed out to colonize a planet. The story centers around his dealings with the crew and the terrors that live on the new planet.
Read
August 30, 2023Unwilling to finish. Rating: minus 3
I am enjoying the ability to again upload a review in less than 24+ hours. For that story, scan the top of my review of "Shockwave". This is another revision of a first draft which will be read by no one else. For me it still serves the original purpose of providing a record of the writing quality of the many writers, whose work I have sampled. The secondary pleasure is the possibility that one of my Snowflake libertarian, NeoNazi or white nationalist US patriotic (😀) fanboys will visit this review for their weekly trigger fix and I aim to misbehave.
This being a boring exercise for books so badly written as a rule, I require a visit to YouTube. This next section is courtesy of Shannon Makes, Abbie Emmons, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Snappy Dragon, Eileen, Spacedock, Words in Time, Mauler, Owen Jones, Philosophy Tube, Up and Atom, Sound of Music Flashmob, May Moon Narrowboat, Abby Cox, Know History, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Lily Simpson, The Stitchery, Adastra, Anastasi in Tech, Second Thought, Oliver Lugg, Tom Nicholas, Owen Jones, Meidas Touch, Omeleto
My first rating absent a review received two likes. That is the second time that has happened. It does not serve to increase my respect for members of this site as a whole. This site are a popularity ratings sales shell for Amazon. We all recognize this but the fiction that Goodreads are a readers forum does require an attempt to evaluate the books. Or so I thought for the first two years on the site. My expectations at present are a continuation of little clouds of negative and often juvenile personal attacks. 🙂
The book is interesting if you enjoy page after page of incompetence and disaster. The fact that so much of it was almost plausible, depressed me. The world building is the first problem, as is usual with current low end US science fiction. The lack of context creates a children's fable, not a science fiction novel. Characters it has been argued, need not be real people and in fact have nothing to do with real people. I do not agree but can for this review, concede the point. Poor dialogue follows and that it can be overlooked as long as it pushes the plot along is a sorry doctrine.
Technology in a book need not be in agreement with current science. That science fiction is dependent on "magic" science as a matter of course, also seems to be an element of dogma at the low end of science fiction. Another principle must be that the society described need only be labelled, "the present copied into the future" and world building is complete. I am not sure that anyone is truly satisfied with that rule but I can entertain the notion that I am the only objector.
This book is better than most of these books in the above areas. I do not say that just in comparison to the really terrible examples. The background universe is weak, though. The world building assumes a flawed power status as regards military strength. The world building does not explain or discuss the economic underpinning of that military power. The world building does not address the economic drivers of national competition nor does it acknowledge the role of corporate capitalism in space exploration.
The background universe has both gaps and a history that has not aged well. Compare the three nations that dominate the globe in the book to the current reality. The Givens include "War is inevitable, much like a natural disaster", "Governments wage war for .... Reasons unknown", "That which the state deems Good, benefits all of its citizens", "Extreme poverty is a divinely ordained aspect of society".
The characters actually work well enough for the setting. Their weakness is in their origin stories and the star search project is not convincing as a global cause. They are both rooted in a world which does not feel particularly credible. The three power bloc world order is not just sad but lacks any imagination. It is a replica of the ridiculous background of bad space games. The only explanation is a reference to an old Golden Age of capitalism and the birth of a new Golden Age of capitalism. It would have been amusing to see an explanation for the rise and fall of these two ages.
The mission is poorly planned and equipped. Sadly it does seem like the crazy quilt mission profile representing insane personal philosophies (political and other) that a consortium might design. The design choices would be made by monied interests which is not emphasized in the book and not by the engineers and space science experts or even governments.
The premise that popular opinion or the interests of the masses determine governmental policy is ludicrous. The book does not suggest that global homelessness has been outlawed, poverty limited educational and health choices have been abolished and unchecked capitalist growth has been reined in. These would be the People's urgent concerns, I would hope.
It is strange that the People did not change state policy. I would have thought all the People would have mitigated climate change, reversed environmental damage, mandated manufacturing, agricultural production and financial structures be revised to benefit the People rather than promote corporate profit and shareholder wealth. I just corralled a stray thought. It is just possible that People do not actually hold power or wield the authority of the state. This book may even be mocking the notion that economic and state power are not twin braids in the illusory myth that liberal democracy and capitalism are conjoined twins bestowing health, wealth and wellbeing to all citizens equally.
It is almost as if policy is made by several small classes of professional clowns, acting in the interests of the even tinier class of owners of capital. Could this book be an indictment of a political and economic system based entirely on extreme wealth inequality, a cult of self-interest, short term wealth and income increase strategies with no concern for negative community consequences? This book might be transformational in its understandings and imaginings of societal restructuring! I apologise, I was momentarily transported to an imaginary land of universal human dignity and enough for all. I remember now that this book is "just science fiction". What an embarrassing lapse.
There are three bizarre power blocs but space is dominated by the USA bloc. The main character can not understand that the entire world would not be keen on adopting American English as the global language. Apparently even with three blocs the USA is still Number One. I wonder if Henry Kissinger co-authored this sad effort. It is sad that there are only three countries on the globe. Four if one counts Ireland. I must assume Ireland represents reader descendants of the North American Irish Diaspora. These are not small details. The gaps, inconsistencies and common (but strange) US-centric world in low end science fiction, always leads to illogical interactions and limited character life paths.
This was an uninteresting book but better than 85+% of the books which I have tried over the last four years. I watch more than read science fiction at the moment. The streaming services for all the flaws in their products tell stories better and are more entertaining than print. The YouTube Shorts channels DUST and Omeleto provide very good short films. Current low end US science fiction tends towards only three categories, The unimaginative, The No Effort and The Ridiculous.
I began using YouTube more than two years ago in search of science fiction content. I found it with some effort and then came all the other interest area channels as well. The best find by far were the book channels. 😍 They are wonderful and devote themselves to every nook and cranny of the book lover's world. The reader communities created are curious, friendly and excited by all things bookish. These channels are an environment that is the complete opposite to that of Amazon. I recommend a visit to several book channels for any reader and have listed some below. The dedicated educational video sites can be found in sponsor spots of educational channels and are all worth a look.
I originally wrote a short negative review more than a year ago of Powers of the Earth, a sad salute to the January 6, 2021 hero by Travis Corcoran (US veteran, self-described libertarian, advocate of a global return of chattel slavery, employee of an unnamed US agency with a nebulous connection to Putin's Russia). A Claes Rees Jr/cgr710, self-described Neo Nazi and US patriot wrote a comment to my revised review in which he declared that They had "won" (?).
I can only assume that means he, Travis Corocran/JP and Their cohort no longer feel a drive to deluge channels which I list with truly vile sexual and racist comments. The mass member name change of my commenters, suggests They at some level realize the horror of inflicting so much unpleasantness on the Swedish historian, the pensioner in France, the Oxford Astrophysicist and other female creators of more likely fear retribution. I never understood how cowardly these freedom lovers can be.. While They added to the globe's overabundance of mindless viciousness, They also presented an accurate portrait of the twisted American man-child snowflake and Their culture to a multinational audience. Good Show! Yay ??
My YouTube picks of the moment.
The Little Platoon, Red Plateaus, Cruising Crafts, The Engineering Hub, Owen Jones, Tieran Freedman, Katie's Corner in Space, The Shuttlepod, Mandy, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Mia Mulder, Leather Apron Club, Alt Shift X, Tom Nicholas.
As for Amazon/Goodreads, I urge you to consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 😐
Ominous music begins. 🙂 I mentioned some of the Amazon employee madness and some of the Goodreads member insanity. The details are better recorded in my review of Powers of the Earth or "Dark Horse", a good novel by Diener. Both of these groups have crossed the line into a cult like depravity.
Customer service and critical comments of books are neither on offer. Horrible "Cancel" campaign does seem to be. Make of my journey what you will.
Simple precautions are removal of lurkers (the friend who monitors but never posts), the minimizing of profile information, exercising care when using Goodreads messaging and making the screenshot of the odd or ugly on this site. You may be safe from a cancellation campaign but your temporary immunity is dependent on the whims of not very bright tough guys. They are not subject to social Or moral constraints but more importantly, they are american.
I admit that I am driven to encourage members to seek out book channels for serious book discussions and science fiction channels for critical analysis of science fiction film, TV and books. I can not say that any of the low end fiction I reviewed are worth the effort I expended to review them. Ominous music ends. 🙂
May we all find Good Reading! 😊
I am not clear about most of the terms, I have seen on YouTube but these are some of my favourite YouTube channels. May you find them entertaining and useful.
DUST, Some More News, A Day of Small Things, The Juice Media, Philosophy Tube, Philomena Cunk, Linguoer Mechanic, Noah Samsen, Mrs Betty Bowers, Real Engineering, Munecat, 2 Cellos, The Leftist Cooks, Katie's Corner in Space, Fortress of Lugh, TVP News, Max Joseph, The Templin Institute., Bookleo, World War Two, Boat Time, Battle Order, Dr Ben Miller, Mythology and Fiction Explained, Tom Nicholas, Books and Lala, Book Furnace, Vlad Vexler, Lady of the Library, Renegade Cut, Real Time History, Lex Fridman, Danica Patrick, Lilly's expat life, Historia Civilis, Kathy's Flog in France, Anton Petrov, Politics Joe, Then & Now, Cari Can Read, WION, Kelly loves Physics and History, The Cold War, Dr Becky, Narrowboat Pirate, Narrowboat Chef, The Piano Guys, Physics Girl, Spacedock, Second Thought, Prime of Midlife, Cruising Alba, Animalogic, Insider Business, Truth to Power, Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, Malinda, ATP Geopolitics, UATV, Hypohystericalhistory, The Stitchery, Ash L G, AlysOtherLife, Jean's Thoughts, The Shades of Orange, Harbo Wholmes, The Gravel Institute, Patrick is a Navajo, A Cup of Nicole, Three Arrows, Overly Sarcastic Productions, The Black Forest Family, EarleWrites, France 24, Tara Mooknee, I'm Rosa, Enby Reads, AllShorts, The Russian Dude, Library Ladder, Hello Future Me, Just Write, Answer in Progress, All Shorts, Storyworldling, Crecganford, Rowan J Coleman, Digital Engine, Interesting Engineering, Sufficiently Advanced Lena, Lady knight the Brave, What Vivi did next, Denys Davydov, Flash Point History, TIKHistory, Chris Animations, Mia Mulder, Second Thought, The Researcher, Breaking Points, Harbo Wholmes.
I wish you a sunny morning, an exhilarating afternoon, a wonderful evening, a pleasant night and may we all continue learning. 😊
When you allow Others to speak in your name without challenge, you adopt Their sins.
My Catholic grandmother (neither moral philosopher, nor social historian)
I am enjoying the ability to again upload a review in less than 24+ hours. For that story, scan the top of my review of "Shockwave". This is another revision of a first draft which will be read by no one else. For me it still serves the original purpose of providing a record of the writing quality of the many writers, whose work I have sampled. The secondary pleasure is the possibility that one of my Snowflake libertarian, NeoNazi or white nationalist US patriotic (😀) fanboys will visit this review for their weekly trigger fix and I aim to misbehave.
This being a boring exercise for books so badly written as a rule, I require a visit to YouTube. This next section is courtesy of Shannon Makes, Abbie Emmons, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Snappy Dragon, Eileen, Spacedock, Words in Time, Mauler, Owen Jones, Philosophy Tube, Up and Atom, Sound of Music Flashmob, May Moon Narrowboat, Abby Cox, Know History, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Lily Simpson, The Stitchery, Adastra, Anastasi in Tech, Second Thought, Oliver Lugg, Tom Nicholas, Owen Jones, Meidas Touch, Omeleto
My first rating absent a review received two likes. That is the second time that has happened. It does not serve to increase my respect for members of this site as a whole. This site are a popularity ratings sales shell for Amazon. We all recognize this but the fiction that Goodreads are a readers forum does require an attempt to evaluate the books. Or so I thought for the first two years on the site. My expectations at present are a continuation of little clouds of negative and often juvenile personal attacks. 🙂
The book is interesting if you enjoy page after page of incompetence and disaster. The fact that so much of it was almost plausible, depressed me. The world building is the first problem, as is usual with current low end US science fiction. The lack of context creates a children's fable, not a science fiction novel. Characters it has been argued, need not be real people and in fact have nothing to do with real people. I do not agree but can for this review, concede the point. Poor dialogue follows and that it can be overlooked as long as it pushes the plot along is a sorry doctrine.
Technology in a book need not be in agreement with current science. That science fiction is dependent on "magic" science as a matter of course, also seems to be an element of dogma at the low end of science fiction. Another principle must be that the society described need only be labelled, "the present copied into the future" and world building is complete. I am not sure that anyone is truly satisfied with that rule but I can entertain the notion that I am the only objector.
This book is better than most of these books in the above areas. I do not say that just in comparison to the really terrible examples. The background universe is weak, though. The world building assumes a flawed power status as regards military strength. The world building does not explain or discuss the economic underpinning of that military power. The world building does not address the economic drivers of national competition nor does it acknowledge the role of corporate capitalism in space exploration.
The background universe has both gaps and a history that has not aged well. Compare the three nations that dominate the globe in the book to the current reality. The Givens include "War is inevitable, much like a natural disaster", "Governments wage war for .... Reasons unknown", "That which the state deems Good, benefits all of its citizens", "Extreme poverty is a divinely ordained aspect of society".
The characters actually work well enough for the setting. Their weakness is in their origin stories and the star search project is not convincing as a global cause. They are both rooted in a world which does not feel particularly credible. The three power bloc world order is not just sad but lacks any imagination. It is a replica of the ridiculous background of bad space games. The only explanation is a reference to an old Golden Age of capitalism and the birth of a new Golden Age of capitalism. It would have been amusing to see an explanation for the rise and fall of these two ages.
The mission is poorly planned and equipped. Sadly it does seem like the crazy quilt mission profile representing insane personal philosophies (political and other) that a consortium might design. The design choices would be made by monied interests which is not emphasized in the book and not by the engineers and space science experts or even governments.
The premise that popular opinion or the interests of the masses determine governmental policy is ludicrous. The book does not suggest that global homelessness has been outlawed, poverty limited educational and health choices have been abolished and unchecked capitalist growth has been reined in. These would be the People's urgent concerns, I would hope.
It is strange that the People did not change state policy. I would have thought all the People would have mitigated climate change, reversed environmental damage, mandated manufacturing, agricultural production and financial structures be revised to benefit the People rather than promote corporate profit and shareholder wealth. I just corralled a stray thought. It is just possible that People do not actually hold power or wield the authority of the state. This book may even be mocking the notion that economic and state power are not twin braids in the illusory myth that liberal democracy and capitalism are conjoined twins bestowing health, wealth and wellbeing to all citizens equally.
It is almost as if policy is made by several small classes of professional clowns, acting in the interests of the even tinier class of owners of capital. Could this book be an indictment of a political and economic system based entirely on extreme wealth inequality, a cult of self-interest, short term wealth and income increase strategies with no concern for negative community consequences? This book might be transformational in its understandings and imaginings of societal restructuring! I apologise, I was momentarily transported to an imaginary land of universal human dignity and enough for all. I remember now that this book is "just science fiction". What an embarrassing lapse.
There are three bizarre power blocs but space is dominated by the USA bloc. The main character can not understand that the entire world would not be keen on adopting American English as the global language. Apparently even with three blocs the USA is still Number One. I wonder if Henry Kissinger co-authored this sad effort. It is sad that there are only three countries on the globe. Four if one counts Ireland. I must assume Ireland represents reader descendants of the North American Irish Diaspora. These are not small details. The gaps, inconsistencies and common (but strange) US-centric world in low end science fiction, always leads to illogical interactions and limited character life paths.
This was an uninteresting book but better than 85+% of the books which I have tried over the last four years. I watch more than read science fiction at the moment. The streaming services for all the flaws in their products tell stories better and are more entertaining than print. The YouTube Shorts channels DUST and Omeleto provide very good short films. Current low end US science fiction tends towards only three categories, The unimaginative, The No Effort and The Ridiculous.
I began using YouTube more than two years ago in search of science fiction content. I found it with some effort and then came all the other interest area channels as well. The best find by far were the book channels. 😍 They are wonderful and devote themselves to every nook and cranny of the book lover's world. The reader communities created are curious, friendly and excited by all things bookish. These channels are an environment that is the complete opposite to that of Amazon. I recommend a visit to several book channels for any reader and have listed some below. The dedicated educational video sites can be found in sponsor spots of educational channels and are all worth a look.
I originally wrote a short negative review more than a year ago of Powers of the Earth, a sad salute to the January 6, 2021 hero by Travis Corcoran (US veteran, self-described libertarian, advocate of a global return of chattel slavery, employee of an unnamed US agency with a nebulous connection to Putin's Russia). A Claes Rees Jr/cgr710, self-described Neo Nazi and US patriot wrote a comment to my revised review in which he declared that They had "won" (?).
I can only assume that means he, Travis Corocran/JP and Their cohort no longer feel a drive to deluge channels which I list with truly vile sexual and racist comments. The mass member name change of my commenters, suggests They at some level realize the horror of inflicting so much unpleasantness on the Swedish historian, the pensioner in France, the Oxford Astrophysicist and other female creators of more likely fear retribution. I never understood how cowardly these freedom lovers can be.. While They added to the globe's overabundance of mindless viciousness, They also presented an accurate portrait of the twisted American man-child snowflake and Their culture to a multinational audience. Good Show! Yay ??
My YouTube picks of the moment.
The Little Platoon, Red Plateaus, Cruising Crafts, The Engineering Hub, Owen Jones, Tieran Freedman, Katie's Corner in Space, The Shuttlepod, Mandy, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Mia Mulder, Leather Apron Club, Alt Shift X, Tom Nicholas.
As for Amazon/Goodreads, I urge you to consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 😐
Ominous music begins. 🙂 I mentioned some of the Amazon employee madness and some of the Goodreads member insanity. The details are better recorded in my review of Powers of the Earth or "Dark Horse", a good novel by Diener. Both of these groups have crossed the line into a cult like depravity.
Customer service and critical comments of books are neither on offer. Horrible "Cancel" campaign does seem to be. Make of my journey what you will.
Simple precautions are removal of lurkers (the friend who monitors but never posts), the minimizing of profile information, exercising care when using Goodreads messaging and making the screenshot of the odd or ugly on this site. You may be safe from a cancellation campaign but your temporary immunity is dependent on the whims of not very bright tough guys. They are not subject to social Or moral constraints but more importantly, they are american.
I admit that I am driven to encourage members to seek out book channels for serious book discussions and science fiction channels for critical analysis of science fiction film, TV and books. I can not say that any of the low end fiction I reviewed are worth the effort I expended to review them. Ominous music ends. 🙂
May we all find Good Reading! 😊
I am not clear about most of the terms, I have seen on YouTube but these are some of my favourite YouTube channels. May you find them entertaining and useful.
DUST, Some More News, A Day of Small Things, The Juice Media, Philosophy Tube, Philomena Cunk, Linguoer Mechanic, Noah Samsen, Mrs Betty Bowers, Real Engineering, Munecat, 2 Cellos, The Leftist Cooks, Katie's Corner in Space, Fortress of Lugh, TVP News, Max Joseph, The Templin Institute., Bookleo, World War Two, Boat Time, Battle Order, Dr Ben Miller, Mythology and Fiction Explained, Tom Nicholas, Books and Lala, Book Furnace, Vlad Vexler, Lady of the Library, Renegade Cut, Real Time History, Lex Fridman, Danica Patrick, Lilly's expat life, Historia Civilis, Kathy's Flog in France, Anton Petrov, Politics Joe, Then & Now, Cari Can Read, WION, Kelly loves Physics and History, The Cold War, Dr Becky, Narrowboat Pirate, Narrowboat Chef, The Piano Guys, Physics Girl, Spacedock, Second Thought, Prime of Midlife, Cruising Alba, Animalogic, Insider Business, Truth to Power, Adult Wednesday Addams - 2 seasons, Malinda, ATP Geopolitics, UATV, Hypohystericalhistory, The Stitchery, Ash L G, AlysOtherLife, Jean's Thoughts, The Shades of Orange, Harbo Wholmes, The Gravel Institute, Patrick is a Navajo, A Cup of Nicole, Three Arrows, Overly Sarcastic Productions, The Black Forest Family, EarleWrites, France 24, Tara Mooknee, I'm Rosa, Enby Reads, AllShorts, The Russian Dude, Library Ladder, Hello Future Me, Just Write, Answer in Progress, All Shorts, Storyworldling, Crecganford, Rowan J Coleman, Digital Engine, Interesting Engineering, Sufficiently Advanced Lena, Lady knight the Brave, What Vivi did next, Denys Davydov, Flash Point History, TIKHistory, Chris Animations, Mia Mulder, Second Thought, The Researcher, Breaking Points, Harbo Wholmes.
I wish you a sunny morning, an exhilarating afternoon, a wonderful evening, a pleasant night and may we all continue learning. 😊
When you allow Others to speak in your name without challenge, you adopt Their sins.
My Catholic grandmother (neither moral philosopher, nor social historian)
March 4, 2020
2.5*
https://theworldsofsff.com/2020/starm...
Starman’s Saga is a self-published book, which I receive via NetGalley courtesy of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).
This book held a lot of promise in the early stages but fell a little flat overall, however, it was still enjoyable in large sections.
I really enjoyed the first 20-25% of the book. Some of the conversations could have been more refined, but Alexander did a good job of giving us an insight into who Lief Grettison is. We learn about his family and upbringing, attitude, skills, military history—including probable PTSD, relationships and more. We’re also informed about the Troubles: US, Russia and China taking the world to the brink of an apocalypse—and the mission to explore a new world, including the politicking around it.
It’s around the quarter mark where an event happens, and an inquest follows. The inquest is a chapter that felt too long and drawn out for me. In turn, it affected the pace of the book and my mood towards it for the next few chapters. Around the 33% mark, the book gets back on track as the journey truly begins.
In those early stages of the book, some of the worldbuilding is interesting but limited. Civilisation doesn’t appear to have advanced that much given the time that has passed--it’s 2069. However, I did find some aspects quite interesting. Everyone had a chip and wore glasses—the glasses display information about the world, such as who the person is you are talking to; there’s also the community and news feeds you can be constantly connected to. As you may predict there are self-driving cars and robots, such as those who can carry out ship maintenance and waiter-bots. None of this is truly inventive though, we have robots now who do all kinds of things and a few years ago, I watched a documentary where a faculty at a university developed glasses that could ID people. Okay, not as advanced as in the book, but they could trawl social media and a database of images to pull up information on somebody.
The journey to the planet, time on the planet and journey back is fraught with incidents and challenges that crew must overcome, as you’d expect and Lief is always at the centre of those. Alexander did a good job with much of this, such as the sequence of events and some crew interactions, but the application was a little off. The new world, which the crew named High Noon, is tidally locked, meaning the side of High Noon the crew landed on never sees night—it always faces the Sun. Parts of the world are interesting and get your imagination going. Plantlife appears black to our eyes as it absorbs light from a different part of the spectrum to that on Earth. There are also a variety of animal species that are encountered during the crew’s stay on High Noon. I felt there was a lack of creativity here too. Almost, all animals that were encountered were described as having some type of snake-like feature. But you can use your imagination and focus on other aspects of the description to paint a picture.
A few other minor issues I had with the book were chapter 38, which, as with the inquest chapter, felt too long, and the use of parentheses at times when they were unnecessary. For me, parentheses break up the flow of reading and in the book they stopped me flat several times, questions why they were there. The text could have been worked into the sentence, or the use of an em dash would have been more appropriate so as to not break up the flow of reading. However, what lets the book down most was believability and some character development.
Regarding fleshing characters out, Alexander didn’t take enough opportunities for crew members to have discussions, which you’d expect on such a venture. One example, where this was executed well was later in the book when several members were trekking through the terrain over the course of several days. There was a point where Lief had a conversation with Tadashi Ishihara, which focused on a small part of Japanese history and gave a real insight into the mind of Ishihara. It was only a short conversation, but it was enough; this was missing for a lot of the characters.
Believability was a bigger issue for me. There were small incidents, like Lief, a trained, experience and decorated soldier wasting ammunition for no good reason, when you know he would simply use a triple-burst shot, which I can generally look past, but the pettiness of crew members was something I couldn’t buy into, and it was constant.
The crew is made up of elite scientists. People who are highly intelligent and have spent their careers analysing and solving problems, conducting research and working with others, yet they are always at each other’s throats, and almost always due to nationally. It wore thin quickly. Alexander would have been far better off fleshing out several of the scientists and providing reasons why some did not like each other—reasons not related to nationality. This would have made outbursts believable and frayed and strained relationships more understandable and relatable, while also solving the issue of fleshing out some of the characters.
The book ended in an interesting way. The last 10% or so explored the psychological impact such a journey and subsequent return could have on crew members. The journey, in Earth time, took 28 years, but the crew themselves barely aged, having spent much time in hib tanks. They returned to a world still young, yet old: out of touch and under-skilled having missed out on 28 years of advancement in their academic fields. This did get my brain going with my own questions, thoughts and opinions on how I may react in the same circumstance, as did other sections of the book.
Overall, if you can look past some of the issues I’ve raised, or they are not things that would bother you, you’ll really enjoy this book. I still enjoyed it, but overall, I was disappointed that it didn’t live up to its potential. With a little more creativity in places—technology and animal species—and more time dedicated to fleshing out the scientists to provide better reasons for animosity among the crew, this could have been a 4* read.
https://theworldsofsff.com/2020/starm...
Starman’s Saga is a self-published book, which I receive via NetGalley courtesy of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).
This book held a lot of promise in the early stages but fell a little flat overall, however, it was still enjoyable in large sections.
I really enjoyed the first 20-25% of the book. Some of the conversations could have been more refined, but Alexander did a good job of giving us an insight into who Lief Grettison is. We learn about his family and upbringing, attitude, skills, military history—including probable PTSD, relationships and more. We’re also informed about the Troubles: US, Russia and China taking the world to the brink of an apocalypse—and the mission to explore a new world, including the politicking around it.
It’s around the quarter mark where an event happens, and an inquest follows. The inquest is a chapter that felt too long and drawn out for me. In turn, it affected the pace of the book and my mood towards it for the next few chapters. Around the 33% mark, the book gets back on track as the journey truly begins.
In those early stages of the book, some of the worldbuilding is interesting but limited. Civilisation doesn’t appear to have advanced that much given the time that has passed--it’s 2069. However, I did find some aspects quite interesting. Everyone had a chip and wore glasses—the glasses display information about the world, such as who the person is you are talking to; there’s also the community and news feeds you can be constantly connected to. As you may predict there are self-driving cars and robots, such as those who can carry out ship maintenance and waiter-bots. None of this is truly inventive though, we have robots now who do all kinds of things and a few years ago, I watched a documentary where a faculty at a university developed glasses that could ID people. Okay, not as advanced as in the book, but they could trawl social media and a database of images to pull up information on somebody.
The journey to the planet, time on the planet and journey back is fraught with incidents and challenges that crew must overcome, as you’d expect and Lief is always at the centre of those. Alexander did a good job with much of this, such as the sequence of events and some crew interactions, but the application was a little off. The new world, which the crew named High Noon, is tidally locked, meaning the side of High Noon the crew landed on never sees night—it always faces the Sun. Parts of the world are interesting and get your imagination going. Plantlife appears black to our eyes as it absorbs light from a different part of the spectrum to that on Earth. There are also a variety of animal species that are encountered during the crew’s stay on High Noon. I felt there was a lack of creativity here too. Almost, all animals that were encountered were described as having some type of snake-like feature. But you can use your imagination and focus on other aspects of the description to paint a picture.
A few other minor issues I had with the book were chapter 38, which, as with the inquest chapter, felt too long, and the use of parentheses at times when they were unnecessary. For me, parentheses break up the flow of reading and in the book they stopped me flat several times, questions why they were there. The text could have been worked into the sentence, or the use of an em dash would have been more appropriate so as to not break up the flow of reading. However, what lets the book down most was believability and some character development.
Regarding fleshing characters out, Alexander didn’t take enough opportunities for crew members to have discussions, which you’d expect on such a venture. One example, where this was executed well was later in the book when several members were trekking through the terrain over the course of several days. There was a point where Lief had a conversation with Tadashi Ishihara, which focused on a small part of Japanese history and gave a real insight into the mind of Ishihara. It was only a short conversation, but it was enough; this was missing for a lot of the characters.
Believability was a bigger issue for me. There were small incidents, like Lief, a trained, experience and decorated soldier wasting ammunition for no good reason, when you know he would simply use a triple-burst shot, which I can generally look past, but the pettiness of crew members was something I couldn’t buy into, and it was constant.
The crew is made up of elite scientists. People who are highly intelligent and have spent their careers analysing and solving problems, conducting research and working with others, yet they are always at each other’s throats, and almost always due to nationally. It wore thin quickly. Alexander would have been far better off fleshing out several of the scientists and providing reasons why some did not like each other—reasons not related to nationality. This would have made outbursts believable and frayed and strained relationships more understandable and relatable, while also solving the issue of fleshing out some of the characters.
The book ended in an interesting way. The last 10% or so explored the psychological impact such a journey and subsequent return could have on crew members. The journey, in Earth time, took 28 years, but the crew themselves barely aged, having spent much time in hib tanks. They returned to a world still young, yet old: out of touch and under-skilled having missed out on 28 years of advancement in their academic fields. This did get my brain going with my own questions, thoughts and opinions on how I may react in the same circumstance, as did other sections of the book.
Overall, if you can look past some of the issues I’ve raised, or they are not things that would bother you, you’ll really enjoy this book. I still enjoyed it, but overall, I was disappointed that it didn’t live up to its potential. With a little more creativity in places—technology and animal species—and more time dedicated to fleshing out the scientists to provide better reasons for animosity among the crew, this could have been a 4* read.
January 7, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from Alton Kremer - Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was awe struck in this book and I could not stop and did not want to stop reading it. One of my favorite books is The Martian and I definitely felt some of the thrilling elements in The Martian in this book. Starman's Saga tells the story of Leif Grettison a everyday man that won a contest to win a trip to outer space and be the first everyday man in space. Little did he know, his crew made up of scientists and doctors would be in so much trouble that it be up to Leif to save the day and without no skills and no scientific knowledge whatsoever, can Leif save mankind? Being a Veteran and meeting Pilot Captain Yang Yong, a tough, exuberant woman captain and at first hating each other's guts now codependent on one another to save the Universe. My heart almost stops and my stomach just drops at some parts and I am left breathless at the end. I know this will potentially be a future book club book and I know everyone will love it.
We will consider adding this title to our Sci-Fi collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I was awe struck in this book and I could not stop and did not want to stop reading it. One of my favorite books is The Martian and I definitely felt some of the thrilling elements in The Martian in this book. Starman's Saga tells the story of Leif Grettison a everyday man that won a contest to win a trip to outer space and be the first everyday man in space. Little did he know, his crew made up of scientists and doctors would be in so much trouble that it be up to Leif to save the day and without no skills and no scientific knowledge whatsoever, can Leif save mankind? Being a Veteran and meeting Pilot Captain Yang Yong, a tough, exuberant woman captain and at first hating each other's guts now codependent on one another to save the Universe. My heart almost stops and my stomach just drops at some parts and I am left breathless at the end. I know this will potentially be a future book club book and I know everyone will love it.
We will consider adding this title to our Sci-Fi collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
December 20, 2019
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
This was a great book !
On the blink of the apocalypse, a group of people is bought together to save Earth.
Leif is a US Army veterans that saw his share of war time.
Captain Yang was a PLA Air Force.
Both of them were from differents side during the "Troubles."
Now, they must find a common ground if they are to work together.
And work together, they must.
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
This was a great book !
On the blink of the apocalypse, a group of people is bought together to save Earth.
Leif is a US Army veterans that saw his share of war time.
Captain Yang was a PLA Air Force.
Both of them were from differents side during the "Troubles."
Now, they must find a common ground if they are to work together.
And work together, they must.
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
August 17, 2021
Poor
Imagine a space mission with no redundancy. Decisions made haphazardly and jokes that made no sense. Even poorly understood science, champagne corks won’t pop in zero gee….really? It felt like a 16 year old wrote this.
Imagine a space mission with no redundancy. Decisions made haphazardly and jokes that made no sense. Even poorly understood science, champagne corks won’t pop in zero gee….really? It felt like a 16 year old wrote this.
November 9, 2022
I picked up this book with some excitement. I love space exploration tales, and throw in a little Near Future prognostication, and I’m in heaven.
The book takes place about 47 years from now, on a future Earth that’s just come out of the Troubles – a period of war and unrest between the three superpowers, China, Russia, and the United States. The three powers have signed a truce, part of which requires them to spend much of what they used to pay for defense on a joint space project – the starshot.
When one of the astronauts backs out unexpectedly months before launch, the BerthRight lottery is launched… the chance for a randomly chosen member of the public to take the first journey to the stars.
Leif (pronounced Layf) Grettison is a scientific researcher and part-time paramedic in a partially drowned Florida who is pretty much drifting through life after the end of the troubles, where he was the only survivor of his platoon during a vicious Chinese attack on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. He’s smart and impulsive, but when he’s told he is the winner of the BerthRight Lottery, his initial impluse is to say no.
But soon his girlfriend cuts him loose, and he realizes he has no ties to speak of to keep him Earthbound. So he accepts the spot, and falls into a vipers nest of competing national interests among the crew, who are also resentful that a civilian with no scientific qualifications will be joining them. A civilian who is somehow perfect for the role.
As the resident ex-soldier, Leif falls into the roles of moderator, mediator, and protector of the crew, sometimes from their own bad decisions. The 28 year round trip to the selected destination star and back is only four in relative time, and with the crew in “hib” – hibernation, only feels like a few months.
The new world, dubbed High Noon because it’s tidally locked to its red dwarf star, proves surprisingly habitable, and is teeming with life, some of which will prove deadly. And what happens upon the crew’s ultimate return may be deadly too.
This is a well-thought-out tale – it’s clear that Alexander spent a lot of time researching how interstellar flight would actually work.
It’s told in the first person, and Leif is a somewhat flawed but likeable narrator. Unlike some single-POV books, I never really felt trapped in this one. In fact, Leif’s tendency to roam let me see more of High Noon than I might have expected. Alexander has fun with his target world, surmising how life might survive – and flourish – on a tidally locked planet with a red sun.
He’s also not afraid to axe his characters, and the growing body count gives the story a sharp, realistic edge. Yet Leif, for all he goes through, also manages to see the beauty in this alien world.
If I have any complaints here, it’s in the third act. Once Leif and the remainder of the crew return home, some of the air has leaked out of the balloon, but the story goes on for ten more chapters before wrapping up. The last part provides a keen observation about the likely effects of relativity on the astronauts who return, but it could probably have been done in less time.
Still, that’s a minor complaint. I really enjoyed the book – it was well written with some great surprises and a dash of hope for these dark times we currently find ourselves in. I looked up the publication date. It was published in 2019, and even though Alexander didn’t predict the pandemic, the Troubles he forecasts seem dead-on given where we are today.
And the ending, while not entirely unexpected, was well done and welcomed. I won’t give any spoilers, but let’s just say the Universe isn’t done yet with Leif the Lucky.
Grab a copy of this book if you love a good space exploration tale. You won’t be disappointed.
The book takes place about 47 years from now, on a future Earth that’s just come out of the Troubles – a period of war and unrest between the three superpowers, China, Russia, and the United States. The three powers have signed a truce, part of which requires them to spend much of what they used to pay for defense on a joint space project – the starshot.
When one of the astronauts backs out unexpectedly months before launch, the BerthRight lottery is launched… the chance for a randomly chosen member of the public to take the first journey to the stars.
Leif (pronounced Layf) Grettison is a scientific researcher and part-time paramedic in a partially drowned Florida who is pretty much drifting through life after the end of the troubles, where he was the only survivor of his platoon during a vicious Chinese attack on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. He’s smart and impulsive, but when he’s told he is the winner of the BerthRight Lottery, his initial impluse is to say no.
But soon his girlfriend cuts him loose, and he realizes he has no ties to speak of to keep him Earthbound. So he accepts the spot, and falls into a vipers nest of competing national interests among the crew, who are also resentful that a civilian with no scientific qualifications will be joining them. A civilian who is somehow perfect for the role.
As the resident ex-soldier, Leif falls into the roles of moderator, mediator, and protector of the crew, sometimes from their own bad decisions. The 28 year round trip to the selected destination star and back is only four in relative time, and with the crew in “hib” – hibernation, only feels like a few months.
The new world, dubbed High Noon because it’s tidally locked to its red dwarf star, proves surprisingly habitable, and is teeming with life, some of which will prove deadly. And what happens upon the crew’s ultimate return may be deadly too.
This is a well-thought-out tale – it’s clear that Alexander spent a lot of time researching how interstellar flight would actually work.
It’s told in the first person, and Leif is a somewhat flawed but likeable narrator. Unlike some single-POV books, I never really felt trapped in this one. In fact, Leif’s tendency to roam let me see more of High Noon than I might have expected. Alexander has fun with his target world, surmising how life might survive – and flourish – on a tidally locked planet with a red sun.
He’s also not afraid to axe his characters, and the growing body count gives the story a sharp, realistic edge. Yet Leif, for all he goes through, also manages to see the beauty in this alien world.
If I have any complaints here, it’s in the third act. Once Leif and the remainder of the crew return home, some of the air has leaked out of the balloon, but the story goes on for ten more chapters before wrapping up. The last part provides a keen observation about the likely effects of relativity on the astronauts who return, but it could probably have been done in less time.
Still, that’s a minor complaint. I really enjoyed the book – it was well written with some great surprises and a dash of hope for these dark times we currently find ourselves in. I looked up the publication date. It was published in 2019, and even though Alexander didn’t predict the pandemic, the Troubles he forecasts seem dead-on given where we are today.
And the ending, while not entirely unexpected, was well done and welcomed. I won’t give any spoilers, but let’s just say the Universe isn’t done yet with Leif the Lucky.
Grab a copy of this book if you love a good space exploration tale. You won’t be disappointed.
February 20, 2020
In the 2060's the troubles began and Leif Grettison survived seven years fighting in the harsh war zones. As a civilian, he’s living quietly, working as a technician in a hibernation lab and as an EMT for a team flying out of a hospital. After the troubles, various nations have worked together to send a small expedition to a nearby star that might have a livable world, and Lief won the lottery for an extra space on the starship. The problem is that between hibernation and time dilation, thirty years will pass on Earth while he lives one. Colin Alexander has a fun tale of a Starman's Saga (ebook from Alton Kremer). It’s a journey that starts with someone trying to blowup the antimater facility supplying the ship fuel. The crew is mainly academics and separate into national groups. Lief is seemingly the only one with common sense, and that helps save lives on the planet with breathable air and water that also has deadly life forms. The only other person with a sense of mission is Yang Yong, the Chinese pilot who had piloted the plane that had killed the rest of Lief’s unit in the war. This one kept me up till 2:30 in the morning.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
April 19, 2021
An Excellent Read
A great book by Colin Alexander.
The author must have done a fairly extensive amount of research and planning prior to writing this book as the science fiction, the character development, and the plot all work together to tell a compelling story.
I am actually a researcher (PhD in Human Systems Engineering) and my only issue is, ironically not with the science. This is a work of science fiction and the author has taken enough of the basic hard science and factionalized upon it beautifully. My issue is with how the scientists interact (or actually refuse to interact) with each other and remain in a hyper-nationalized state even when light years removed from Earth and facing common obstacles. The author does a good job of introducing plot points and background to shore up this type of behavior on the part of the researchers, however, my experiences created a cognItive disconnect for me concerning this type of behavior. With that said, this is a work of fiction, and the author is free to portray scientists in whatever light they so choose.
I highly recommend this book.
A great book by Colin Alexander.
The author must have done a fairly extensive amount of research and planning prior to writing this book as the science fiction, the character development, and the plot all work together to tell a compelling story.
I am actually a researcher (PhD in Human Systems Engineering) and my only issue is, ironically not with the science. This is a work of science fiction and the author has taken enough of the basic hard science and factionalized upon it beautifully. My issue is with how the scientists interact (or actually refuse to interact) with each other and remain in a hyper-nationalized state even when light years removed from Earth and facing common obstacles. The author does a good job of introducing plot points and background to shore up this type of behavior on the part of the researchers, however, my experiences created a cognItive disconnect for me concerning this type of behavior. With that said, this is a work of fiction, and the author is free to portray scientists in whatever light they so choose.
I highly recommend this book.
March 7, 2021
It's Sad
Something of a Noir Space Fantasy. I made that up but like so often happens, I suspect I am not the first. It is awesome imaginary in the science and space side but quite intuitive on the human side. Times change, situations change, technology changes, but people stay the same. The sad part of of this story is that people are the sum of their experiences. If you take a leap into the future, you don't fit any more. You become disassociated. In this story, it caused the suicide of many of the astronauts who, when they left, had been the top of their field, but on their return were history at best. So, the most interesting thing that Colin Alexander does in this story is the discussion of who people are and how they exist together, both good and bad. A penultimate theme is about us. There are many references that could easily be transferred to our real world. There is much that is happy in life, but there is sad, too.
Something of a Noir Space Fantasy. I made that up but like so often happens, I suspect I am not the first. It is awesome imaginary in the science and space side but quite intuitive on the human side. Times change, situations change, technology changes, but people stay the same. The sad part of of this story is that people are the sum of their experiences. If you take a leap into the future, you don't fit any more. You become disassociated. In this story, it caused the suicide of many of the astronauts who, when they left, had been the top of their field, but on their return were history at best. So, the most interesting thing that Colin Alexander does in this story is the discussion of who people are and how they exist together, both good and bad. A penultimate theme is about us. There are many references that could easily be transferred to our real world. There is much that is happy in life, but there is sad, too.
September 8, 2020
Wow, futuristic time travel
I figured I would write the heading in case readers aren't interested in time travel. I am enthralled with with the subject. The twist and turns of Leif, Yong, Bush, Heather, ABC, Yelena, and many other characters traveling light years away and coming back 28 yrs later to a whole new society that they don't recognize or fit in too much for some of them. The separation of countries is still apparent in 2069. The creativeness of the Star planet and the different creatures is fascinating. There is hope for colonization in space, death, beauty, unlikely friendships, govt interference and finally the people who couldn't take/understand the new society. If you are like me, you will love this book and won't be able to put it down. My description is no where near how good this book is.
I figured I would write the heading in case readers aren't interested in time travel. I am enthralled with with the subject. The twist and turns of Leif, Yong, Bush, Heather, ABC, Yelena, and many other characters traveling light years away and coming back 28 yrs later to a whole new society that they don't recognize or fit in too much for some of them. The separation of countries is still apparent in 2069. The creativeness of the Star planet and the different creatures is fascinating. There is hope for colonization in space, death, beauty, unlikely friendships, govt interference and finally the people who couldn't take/understand the new society. If you are like me, you will love this book and won't be able to put it down. My description is no where near how good this book is.
March 5, 2021
Well written, good world building enjoyable read in a saga style
I loved this book. Its difficult nowadays to find an original science fiction book that's really relatable and entertaining. The length of this book was awesome. The writer gave himself the space to really build authentic characters and allow them the breadth to complete an entire arc of their stories. It had enough science and the science was explained in a relatable way. The world building was very good. I could see the worlds created and understand them even when I didn't like them. That's a gift, to be able to create absorbing unlikable characters and plot points, even brief ones. Too many authors edit their books down to action and leave the story too early. The pacing was good. I recommend it as a read. Leif will stay with me a long time.
I loved this book. Its difficult nowadays to find an original science fiction book that's really relatable and entertaining. The length of this book was awesome. The writer gave himself the space to really build authentic characters and allow them the breadth to complete an entire arc of their stories. It had enough science and the science was explained in a relatable way. The world building was very good. I could see the worlds created and understand them even when I didn't like them. That's a gift, to be able to create absorbing unlikable characters and plot points, even brief ones. Too many authors edit their books down to action and leave the story too early. The pacing was good. I recommend it as a read. Leif will stay with me a long time.
November 20, 2020
Way, Way Better Than I Expected
This novel has a terribly bland title and a not-very-good summary on Kindle. But I read the free preview and was hooked.
The writing and story are excellent. The characters are believable. It all could really happen. And it has a satisfying conclusion.
It's a great tale about what a first trip to a habitable planet could be like. I'm going to avoid details, because not knowing will make you enjoy it more. Just know that I'm almost impossible to please. I've ready hundreds of sci-fi books and stories. And this one held my interest from top to bottom.
Don't let the idiocy of a lottery selecting a starship passenger put you off. All is explained.
It is a good book.
This novel has a terribly bland title and a not-very-good summary on Kindle. But I read the free preview and was hooked.
The writing and story are excellent. The characters are believable. It all could really happen. And it has a satisfying conclusion.
It's a great tale about what a first trip to a habitable planet could be like. I'm going to avoid details, because not knowing will make you enjoy it more. Just know that I'm almost impossible to please. I've ready hundreds of sci-fi books and stories. And this one held my interest from top to bottom.
Don't let the idiocy of a lottery selecting a starship passenger put you off. All is explained.
It is a good book.
April 10, 2021
Solid and satisfying
It is so pleasant to read a book that has a good plot, solid characters, decent science, possible politics, and a story worth telling. This is one of those! There is action, there are depths, there is pain and joy. The initial unlikelihood of winning a one and 20 million chance to be a passenger on humanities first starship makes sense as the story progresses. Leif the Lucky turns out to be a remarkable human being in the right place at the right time. His journey there and back again does not end the story – it just begins it. Which is what makes a story worth five stars!
It is so pleasant to read a book that has a good plot, solid characters, decent science, possible politics, and a story worth telling. This is one of those! There is action, there are depths, there is pain and joy. The initial unlikelihood of winning a one and 20 million chance to be a passenger on humanities first starship makes sense as the story progresses. Leif the Lucky turns out to be a remarkable human being in the right place at the right time. His journey there and back again does not end the story – it just begins it. Which is what makes a story worth five stars!
November 28, 2020
This is an incredibly good book !
I very seldom review books. My reviews are posted usually because the books are awful and I want to spare others the disappointment of a poor read, or as is this case, I want to share my absolute delight with what I've read.
This is a well thought out, expertly crafted story that simply works on all levels. No short cuts, no banal filler, simply a very engaging, well thought out story with depth and insight.
Read this book and hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did !!
I very seldom review books. My reviews are posted usually because the books are awful and I want to spare others the disappointment of a poor read, or as is this case, I want to share my absolute delight with what I've read.
This is a well thought out, expertly crafted story that simply works on all levels. No short cuts, no banal filler, simply a very engaging, well thought out story with depth and insight.
Read this book and hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did !!
September 2, 2021
This sci-fi novel concerns the protagonist, Leif Grettison or “Leif the Lucky”. He, half-heartedly, decides to enter a lottery to be in with the chance of joining humanity’s first starflight which is set to explore a planet which could be the next Earth. Leif is very... read the full review here: https://www.amybucklesbookshelf.co.uk...
January 16, 2020
Pretty solid book and probably worth a go. It has an interesting plot and likeable characters, Although there are some flaws, such as not fully formed characters or cardboard versions. But the premise is a good one. 3.5 Stars.
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
January 9, 2024
What is important for us to remember is that this is a mission that will unify humanity.
OK. Well, hm. Let's see. Colin Alexander's "Starman's Saga: The Long, Strange Journey of Leif The Lucky" aka "Leif the Lucky #1" was a fun if not flawed read. Alexander's writing style is more than acceptable and the rest of my checklist was adequately populated with at very least "good" gradings. But as the story itself breaks up into arguably anywhere from 5 to even a dozen "booklets" - not novellas, no, but really separate parts that are so distinct from one another as to be somewhat dizzying - the pacing is often a tad bit… weird? Otherworldly? I'm not sure what to call it but no doubt you can include my experience somewhere in the pages of "Behavioral and Epigenetic Psychology and Psychiatry." But please, no embarrassing acronyms.
Watch your step with some of the crew. You’re not too popular.
Don't get me wrong, please. I liked this book. I'm not sure if I want to continue the series right now simply because this wasn't the kind of read I needed at this time, place, and whatever else comes into the selection process. Yeah, I kind of screwed up because for some odd reason, I had it in my head that "Leif the Lucky" was going to be a lighter scifi escapade with lots of giggles and ultimately redemption for an aptly nicknamed loveable loser. That, in a nutshell, is not this book. I was definitely not expecting war flashbacks, injuries and even arguably a pretty bad case of PTSD. And that's not even including a last section that will be a gut-punch to anyone who attaches too strongly to fictional characters (suicide trigger warning!). So my bad, through and through.
Damn it, my name is Leif. Stop calling me soldier-boy.
Instead, this near-future tale - and an all too realistic and believable one at that - includes parts that are sheer genius in their conception and execution… as well as others that had me saying a number of rude and unprintable things towards my Kindle Reader (poor thing, it's only lived with me since Christmas '23). For the former, I would also include the more than passable construction of so many divergent personalities without resorting on too many tired clichés. Now of course when you're putting a group of Americans, Russians, Chinese and a few "others" in close company, especially after the horrors of "the Troubles", well, a few standard characteristics are going to slip in. I still thought though that Alexander handled these as well as could be expected.
Half of them hate one another. Jealousy, never mind the partisanship.
In addition, the background "scheme" if you will of having the powers that be handicap each other as well as themselves with investing in an admittedly rushed and even ill-conceived mutual space program was superb. Yes, tensions still existed - heck, half of our "main" cast fought in these "don't call them wars" - but it at least provided enough of a purpose to make setting out on this journey believable. Even getting Leif involved - who by the end of the tale proves himself to be one of the 2 or 3 most valuable crew members among a throng of utterly useless academic milquetoasts - was extremely clever. Heck, even reading about the Social Media of the future made so much sense that I'm almost scared to log in today myself!
The Troubles had nearly put the whole planet in a grave. Now we were reprising it on an international space station.
However, there were also other parts that, in short text, just made my head hurt. Again, the crew is so head-scratchingly bad - which didn't help said headache - in terms of being prepared to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before… oops, sorry, where was I? Well, they're just not the ones I'd pick if it were up to me, you know? I mean, a minimum of physical ability to go along with the smarts might have been helpful. Also - and this stunned me enough to wonder if phasers were set too high - the reactions of the crew to ANY of the alien life was just … arrgh, I don't know how to put it! Sorry, but the first time we see an amoeba on another planet, the whole of civilization is going to freak! Noticing a few creatures at the beach including drone-killing four-winged flying snakes deserves a little more reaction than "oh look at that!" And "help help, this one is eating me!" doesn't count! So yeah, those bits lost me.
Fly-girl survived just fine. This may be the first time a world war was averted by a dietary supplement.
Otherwise, I could definitely see this being an extremely interesting book for a scifi discussion with like-minded individuals and will certainly raise it in various forums I belong to. Just because I'm not ready to go out and buy book 2 right now (I know I said that already... but you know that cover does look interesting so maybe…?) is not a negative vote. I just think I got what I needed out of book 1 in terms of being able to continue and if I take a few months off in between, well, even at my age, my appreciation for Leif or even others (Yang Yong? Young Dong? You know, the Chinese pilot lady person!) won't be diminished in any way!
OK. Well, hm. Let's see. Colin Alexander's "Starman's Saga: The Long, Strange Journey of Leif The Lucky" aka "Leif the Lucky #1" was a fun if not flawed read. Alexander's writing style is more than acceptable and the rest of my checklist was adequately populated with at very least "good" gradings. But as the story itself breaks up into arguably anywhere from 5 to even a dozen "booklets" - not novellas, no, but really separate parts that are so distinct from one another as to be somewhat dizzying - the pacing is often a tad bit… weird? Otherworldly? I'm not sure what to call it but no doubt you can include my experience somewhere in the pages of "Behavioral and Epigenetic Psychology and Psychiatry." But please, no embarrassing acronyms.
Watch your step with some of the crew. You’re not too popular.
Don't get me wrong, please. I liked this book. I'm not sure if I want to continue the series right now simply because this wasn't the kind of read I needed at this time, place, and whatever else comes into the selection process. Yeah, I kind of screwed up because for some odd reason, I had it in my head that "Leif the Lucky" was going to be a lighter scifi escapade with lots of giggles and ultimately redemption for an aptly nicknamed loveable loser. That, in a nutshell, is not this book. I was definitely not expecting war flashbacks, injuries and even arguably a pretty bad case of PTSD. And that's not even including a last section that will be a gut-punch to anyone who attaches too strongly to fictional characters (suicide trigger warning!). So my bad, through and through.
Damn it, my name is Leif. Stop calling me soldier-boy.
Instead, this near-future tale - and an all too realistic and believable one at that - includes parts that are sheer genius in their conception and execution… as well as others that had me saying a number of rude and unprintable things towards my Kindle Reader (poor thing, it's only lived with me since Christmas '23). For the former, I would also include the more than passable construction of so many divergent personalities without resorting on too many tired clichés. Now of course when you're putting a group of Americans, Russians, Chinese and a few "others" in close company, especially after the horrors of "the Troubles", well, a few standard characteristics are going to slip in. I still thought though that Alexander handled these as well as could be expected.
Half of them hate one another. Jealousy, never mind the partisanship.
In addition, the background "scheme" if you will of having the powers that be handicap each other as well as themselves with investing in an admittedly rushed and even ill-conceived mutual space program was superb. Yes, tensions still existed - heck, half of our "main" cast fought in these "don't call them wars" - but it at least provided enough of a purpose to make setting out on this journey believable. Even getting Leif involved - who by the end of the tale proves himself to be one of the 2 or 3 most valuable crew members among a throng of utterly useless academic milquetoasts - was extremely clever. Heck, even reading about the Social Media of the future made so much sense that I'm almost scared to log in today myself!
The Troubles had nearly put the whole planet in a grave. Now we were reprising it on an international space station.
However, there were also other parts that, in short text, just made my head hurt. Again, the crew is so head-scratchingly bad - which didn't help said headache - in terms of being prepared to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before… oops, sorry, where was I? Well, they're just not the ones I'd pick if it were up to me, you know? I mean, a minimum of physical ability to go along with the smarts might have been helpful. Also - and this stunned me enough to wonder if phasers were set too high - the reactions of the crew to ANY of the alien life was just … arrgh, I don't know how to put it! Sorry, but the first time we see an amoeba on another planet, the whole of civilization is going to freak! Noticing a few creatures at the beach including drone-killing four-winged flying snakes deserves a little more reaction than "oh look at that!" And "help help, this one is eating me!" doesn't count! So yeah, those bits lost me.
Fly-girl survived just fine. This may be the first time a world war was averted by a dietary supplement.
Otherwise, I could definitely see this being an extremely interesting book for a scifi discussion with like-minded individuals and will certainly raise it in various forums I belong to. Just because I'm not ready to go out and buy book 2 right now (I know I said that already... but you know that cover does look interesting so maybe…?) is not a negative vote. I just think I got what I needed out of book 1 in terms of being able to continue and if I take a few months off in between, well, even at my age, my appreciation for Leif or even others (Yang Yong? Young Dong? You know, the Chinese pilot lady person!) won't be diminished in any way!
July 11, 2023
An Engaging Journey among the Stars (spoiler-free review!)
Colin Alexander's novel, Starman's Saga, The Long, Strange Journey of Leif the Lucky, offers readers an engaging experience as they embark on a thrilling adventure to a distant galaxy. This Science Fiction novel captivates with its intriguing characters, vivid world-building, and thought-provoking themes, making it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
From the very beginning, Alexander's storytelling shines, immersing readers in a well-crafted universe. His descriptive abilities bring the landscapes and technology to life, allowing readers to imagine the scenes with clarity.
The novel excels in its well-rounded characters. Leif, the relatable protagonist, takes readers on a journey filled with anticipation and personal growth. His development throughout the story is believable and inspiring. The diverse crew members on the voyage are also well-developed, adding depth to the narrative with their unique personalities and motivations.
The pacing of the story keeps readers engaged throughout, with unexpected twists and turns adding excitement. It's a book that keeps you turning the pages (even staying up late to see what happens next!)
Beyond the adventure, the book explores profound themes such as humanity, hope, and connection in a vast universe. These elements add depth to the story, making it more than just an entertaining journey.
Alexander's writing style is elegant and accessible, making it suitable for readers of all ages. Whether you're a seasoned science fiction fan or new to the genre, Starman's Saga, The Long, Strange Journey of Leif the Lucky is worth considering. It showcases the author's talent and leaves readers interested in following Leif on his future adventures.
I really enjoyed this novel. Alexander's storytelling, well-rounded characters, and immersive world-building made this book a worthwhile read. I highly recommend it for those seeking an enjoyable journey among the stars.
Colin Alexander's novel, Starman's Saga, The Long, Strange Journey of Leif the Lucky, offers readers an engaging experience as they embark on a thrilling adventure to a distant galaxy. This Science Fiction novel captivates with its intriguing characters, vivid world-building, and thought-provoking themes, making it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
From the very beginning, Alexander's storytelling shines, immersing readers in a well-crafted universe. His descriptive abilities bring the landscapes and technology to life, allowing readers to imagine the scenes with clarity.
The novel excels in its well-rounded characters. Leif, the relatable protagonist, takes readers on a journey filled with anticipation and personal growth. His development throughout the story is believable and inspiring. The diverse crew members on the voyage are also well-developed, adding depth to the narrative with their unique personalities and motivations.
The pacing of the story keeps readers engaged throughout, with unexpected twists and turns adding excitement. It's a book that keeps you turning the pages (even staying up late to see what happens next!)
Beyond the adventure, the book explores profound themes such as humanity, hope, and connection in a vast universe. These elements add depth to the story, making it more than just an entertaining journey.
Alexander's writing style is elegant and accessible, making it suitable for readers of all ages. Whether you're a seasoned science fiction fan or new to the genre, Starman's Saga, The Long, Strange Journey of Leif the Lucky is worth considering. It showcases the author's talent and leaves readers interested in following Leif on his future adventures.
I really enjoyed this novel. Alexander's storytelling, well-rounded characters, and immersive world-building made this book a worthwhile read. I highly recommend it for those seeking an enjoyable journey among the stars.
December 14, 2023
A group of multi-national scientists goes on an interplanetary mission. Recipe for a good story? Perhaps, but this book didn't tell it. The characters are all very one-dimensional, entirely defined by their nationality. They are grouped by their nationality and there is no love between the different groups. When they get to the planet, they only fight, over those same nationalities, and act like a bunch of third graders on a school trip. Whenever something goes wrong, they scream and panic, and then they bicker again. I really struggled to suspend my disbelief. Everything, from the characters to the plot, are totally unbelievable. If there was a point to this book, I missed it. It just meandered from one unrealistic situation to the next unrealistic situation. And then there's the sexism, and the US-centric patriotism.
November 14, 2024
This book is nonsense. It reads like a pulp novel from the 1920s rewritten by Heinlein in the 1950s. It makes no attempt to be plausible so you're going to need Herculean powers of disbelief suspension to get through it.
So when the four star review? Well for all its literary failings the book is a lot of fun and Leif is a likeable protagonist. And while the plot is wildly implausible it races along so you'll be kept entertained by our hero's adventures.
I read this to pass the time on a train, and it was the perfect book. It doesn't require great concentration so it's ideal for a distracting environment like a crowded train. If you're looking for something to read in similar circumstances then I can recommend this. If you're looking for something more likely to win a Hugo award then look elsewhere.
So when the four star review? Well for all its literary failings the book is a lot of fun and Leif is a likeable protagonist. And while the plot is wildly implausible it races along so you'll be kept entertained by our hero's adventures.
I read this to pass the time on a train, and it was the perfect book. It doesn't require great concentration so it's ideal for a distracting environment like a crowded train. If you're looking for something to read in similar circumstances then I can recommend this. If you're looking for something more likely to win a Hugo award then look elsewhere.
December 29, 2020
Overall, I enjoyed this book. However the central character Leif, is almost the only character with any real dimension. You get to know this ex-military character very well - he is credible and you end up empathizing with him, but you can't say this about almost any of the other characters that are two-dimensional cardboard cutouts for the most part. And then there is the ridiculous stereotyping of the characters based on their national origins. Add another layer of stereotyping of what science nerds are like and I really struggled with all of that. So I found all of that a bit distracting, but nonetheless the story moved along very nicely and the alien world was well conceived and their adventures on the alien planet were filled with page turning drama. I am not sure that I would read another book by Colin Alexander though.
June 30, 2022
I read a lot of Sci Fi especially on Kindle and for the most part, the books are fair to mediocre. Not this book. For once, I was eager to pick up the book to see what happens next and when the author drew it to a superb ending, I thought, "Wow; that was really good." Not only is the writing good, but the plot moves at the perfect pace, the technology is correct and the characters are believable. If there's a slight flaw, it's that there would be such ethnic/political hatred between the crew members of such an important mission. However, considering today's politically charged environment, it's quite possible. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy the classics by the likes of Asimov, Clarke Heinlein and Silverberg.
October 22, 2023
The world is only a few years past a three way world war, national resentments are still boiling and no one has gotten over their personal losses. Then someone has the great ideas to send an international team to a nearby star to explore one its planets that shows signs of life. Just a couple of weeks before the mission leaves, Leif is selected by a lottery to fill a spot recently opened by a crew member that could not go.
The author tells us of Leif's journey to this strange world. The bickering by the scientists gets frustrating for the reader, but he does a good job in developing Leif's character and presenting the events on the planet.
I do recommend this book. The author does an intelligent job with the conditions on the planet and the character of the hero.
The author tells us of Leif's journey to this strange world. The bickering by the scientists gets frustrating for the reader, but he does a good job in developing Leif's character and presenting the events on the planet.
I do recommend this book. The author does an intelligent job with the conditions on the planet and the character of the hero.
January 6, 2023
Leif Grettison, the hero of Colin Alexander’s Starman’s Saga, is an ex-military helicopter pilot working as a civilian EMT. He is at loose ends when he is told he has won a lottery to become a crewman on humanity’s first interstellar mission. He is the only non-specialist on the crew and expects to spend his time as a supercargo taking selfies. Naturally, by the time the plot gets going, he is the most competent guy on the ship. Leif is a likable character, but the mission he joins is a mess. The ship is supposed to carry the best and brightest, but most of their concerns are narrowly political or racist. I might read one more of this series, but I am not sure how much to expect. 3 stars.
August 21, 2024
Very Moving
I read A LOT of books. Over the past few years the trend of book series has taken hold in sci-fi books. And I don’t like the trend. Most of these books I can’t wait to get to the end and be finished, and I don’t care about the characters. I don’t read the sequels.
But this book is wonderful. I fell in love with Leif and Yong and already miss them. This is a book you don’t want to end because it is so well paced, so well done, so complete. There is a sequel to this book, or a further adventure as Colin Alexander puts it, and I will read it. But this book is complete and satisfying without the need to move on to another. Yet, for a change, I want to.
I read A LOT of books. Over the past few years the trend of book series has taken hold in sci-fi books. And I don’t like the trend. Most of these books I can’t wait to get to the end and be finished, and I don’t care about the characters. I don’t read the sequels.
But this book is wonderful. I fell in love with Leif and Yong and already miss them. This is a book you don’t want to end because it is so well paced, so well done, so complete. There is a sequel to this book, or a further adventure as Colin Alexander puts it, and I will read it. But this book is complete and satisfying without the need to move on to another. Yet, for a change, I want to.
February 10, 2023
Nothing new under the sun here, except the planet, oh and the sun, but apart from that, nothing new, space exploration, how people interact with each other in a confined space, with the added tension of world conflict thrown in for good measure. A difficult book to review, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either, although for some reason it was a bit of a page turner. It did keep me interested. Some excitement ensued on the planet, but very little elsewhere. If I had to criticize, I think the book should have been shorter, it was a bit long winded.
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