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When Earth Shall Be No More
2023 IPPY AWARD WINNER (BRONZE) IN SCIENCE FICTION
An intriguing debut science fiction thriller featuring a scientist heroine, the multiverse, and a NASA spaceport near Chincoteague Island, Virginia.
First in a planned trilogy from husband and wife writing team Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan.
***
Environmental scientist Constance Roy is one of forty-nine refugees rescued from Earth’s destruction and transported to the ark spaceship Orb by an automaton race called the Curators. Twelve months have passed since their rescue. But now, with the ship’s orbit decaying, the refugees seem doomed to crash into Jupiter’s fiery belly.
In a parallel universe on present-day Earth, another version of Constance seeks answers to the questions that have haunted her since childhood: How and why did her mother die? The head of a mysterious corporation housed at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility can give her the answers, but not without a price.
Two timestreams collide when the Constance on Earth discovers that Nicolas, her son, has the ability to save the Orb and its inhabitants. Now she must battle treacherous Curators wishing to destroy Nicolas, while on the Orb, another Constance must fight to save the ship from Jupiter’s fatal pull.
Only together can they save their son – and future generations of humankind.
An intriguing debut science fiction thriller featuring a scientist heroine, the multiverse, and a NASA spaceport near Chincoteague Island, Virginia.
First in a planned trilogy from husband and wife writing team Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan.
***
Environmental scientist Constance Roy is one of forty-nine refugees rescued from Earth’s destruction and transported to the ark spaceship Orb by an automaton race called the Curators. Twelve months have passed since their rescue. But now, with the ship’s orbit decaying, the refugees seem doomed to crash into Jupiter’s fiery belly.
In a parallel universe on present-day Earth, another version of Constance seeks answers to the questions that have haunted her since childhood: How and why did her mother die? The head of a mysterious corporation housed at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility can give her the answers, but not without a price.
Two timestreams collide when the Constance on Earth discovers that Nicolas, her son, has the ability to save the Orb and its inhabitants. Now she must battle treacherous Curators wishing to destroy Nicolas, while on the Orb, another Constance must fight to save the ship from Jupiter’s fatal pull.
Only together can they save their son – and future generations of humankind.
- GenresScience Fiction
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2022
5 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 10, 2022
I bought this book at Awesomecon, where I met the co-authors Paul Awad and Kathryn O'Sullivan. They are a very interesting couple. In the past, they collaborated on a number of films. While Ms. O'Sullivan has several published books to her name, this is their first book collaboration.
This book is definitely a page-turner. I finished it in a couple of days, because I just couldn't put it down. What I really look for in science fiction books is a set of new ideas. While there are no truly new ideas or technology concepts in this story, the story-telling approach is brand new to me. The story follows a set of characters as they act in parallel, in two completely different universes. In one universe, humankind has destroyed the Earth. An alien group of "Curators" is taking the remnants of humanity to a new, habitable planet. At least, that's what they promised.
In the other universe, a single mother looks for information about her parents, who disappeared (or died) under mysterious circumstances. The characters have different relationships with each other in the two universes, but their appearances are identical, and their personalities are the same.
I have two small quibbles with the book. The short, alternating chapters almost gave me whiplash; they were just too short to gain a sense of "being there". Also, while a suspension of disbelief is necessary in just about any science fiction novel, I just cannot believe that a mother would allow her young son to leave ... regardless of the justification. (I am trying to avoid spoilers here ....)
The authors plan on writing two sequels to this book. They have left plenty of room for expansion!
This book is definitely a page-turner. I finished it in a couple of days, because I just couldn't put it down. What I really look for in science fiction books is a set of new ideas. While there are no truly new ideas or technology concepts in this story, the story-telling approach is brand new to me. The story follows a set of characters as they act in parallel, in two completely different universes. In one universe, humankind has destroyed the Earth. An alien group of "Curators" is taking the remnants of humanity to a new, habitable planet. At least, that's what they promised.
In the other universe, a single mother looks for information about her parents, who disappeared (or died) under mysterious circumstances. The characters have different relationships with each other in the two universes, but their appearances are identical, and their personalities are the same.
I have two small quibbles with the book. The short, alternating chapters almost gave me whiplash; they were just too short to gain a sense of "being there". Also, while a suspension of disbelief is necessary in just about any science fiction novel, I just cannot believe that a mother would allow her young son to leave ... regardless of the justification. (I am trying to avoid spoilers here ....)
The authors plan on writing two sequels to this book. They have left plenty of room for expansion!
May 27, 2022
Engrossing, complex, unsettling: WHEN EARTH SHALL BE NO MORE is the Sci Fi story of a woman living in parallel universes, whose life is not autonomous but instead directed, overseen, and compelled by a shadowy "philanthropic" Foundation and its elusive Founder/Director. Settings are a colony ship approaching Jupiter, and Earth, as the two versions of Constance alternate. Although Science Fiction, the underlying threads are very believable.
March 10, 2022
When Earth Shall Be No More by Paul Awad.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was my first attempt at a novel from Paul Awad, who here introduces a definitely innovative view of time & space in a Sci-fi novel.
Athough the idea of trying to save humanity from a dying earth is a rather common idea (if not yet a reality when it comes to escaping via a travel through unknown space), reading this book felt to me as I if were reading about space and time travel for the first time.
A great reading adventure even if a bit lengthy at time, nicely written with a definite atmosphere to it.
I have enjoyed reading it and would refrain to be more specific about the plot to avoid committing a spoiler.….
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was my first attempt at a novel from Paul Awad, who here introduces a definitely innovative view of time & space in a Sci-fi novel.
Athough the idea of trying to save humanity from a dying earth is a rather common idea (if not yet a reality when it comes to escaping via a travel through unknown space), reading this book felt to me as I if were reading about space and time travel for the first time.
A great reading adventure even if a bit lengthy at time, nicely written with a definite atmosphere to it.
I have enjoyed reading it and would refrain to be more specific about the plot to avoid committing a spoiler.….
February 20, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Earth is wiped out, and an automaton species has taken a small group of earthlings...somewhere. Meanwhile in a different timeline, the same woman tries to save the earth.
Depressing, I thought, but not too bad.
Earth is wiped out, and an automaton species has taken a small group of earthlings...somewhere. Meanwhile in a different timeline, the same woman tries to save the earth.
Depressing, I thought, but not too bad.
May 24, 2022
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was attracted to this book because of its cover design and the title. I was expecting a post-apocalyptic kind of story where the Earth is destroyed and some very rich man building a spaceship to carry an elite crew off the planet to save humanity. When I read the book, I found it was much more than what I expected.
This is a story full of humanistic ideas and interactions between two timelines. There are many twists and turns making the story compelling. The plot is driven by well-developed characters that a reader can truly care about and relate to. It is a tale of people forming relationships depending on cooperation for survival. It suggests just what humanity can do if people work together.
A reader will find this book hard to set aside once it is opened.
The Earth has somehow been destroyed and Constance Roy, an environmental scientist along with forty-eight others, are taken aboard the Orb, a huge space vessel that is in orbit around the planet Jupiter. Constance and the rest of the humans are watched over by an automaton race of beings calling themselves Curators. Everything on board Orb is provided except for the solution to the problem of where to go before the ship's orbit decays and is crushed in the Jovian planet's atmosphere.
In another timeline on modern day Earth, Constance goes about her life as a single mom raising a son who appears to be someone very special. The youngster, Nicolas, appears to have a special gift of being able to understand things far beyond his age.
Onboard the Orb, the Curators have given up on any possibility that the humans will save themselves. Their bickering and single-mindedness seem to get in the way.
Just when all seems lost, the timelines collide. Nicolas's mother Constance makes a sacrifice, and the boy helps Constance in the Orb timeline to solve the problems. Convinced there is no hope for the future of humanity, the Curators seek to kill Nicolas, but Constance fights to make sure the boy can give hope to what is left of Earth's population to start over on a new world.
When Earth Shall Be No More is told from Constance Roy's point of view in both timelines.
Constance on the Orb and on Earth both have the same personalities. They think, talk, and act alike. Both are analytical and are good problem solvers. The difference between the two is their focus on the problems they face. Orb Constance is trying to find the target planet to settle on by following a string of cryptic clues left behind by a friend while the Earth version is concerned mostly with her son and his wellbeing. Earth Constance does not know what is happening when a mysterious stranger arrives on the scene and tries to kidnap Nicolas.
My favorite point of plot in this tale is how Nicolas has been nurtured to appreciate science and what it can offer to solve problems. She encourages Nicolas to read books and learn all he can about the things he is interested in. This alone makes the child a force in the future survival of humanity.
My takeaway from this story is how one should never underestimate the powers of a young person who is full of wonder and curiosity. One such individual can be both an inspiration and can present a unique point of view to the solution of a problem.
This book is an easy-to-read story that flows along at a good pace and will hold a reader's attention. It is an uncommon science fiction thriller that runs the entire spectrum of emotional content and is well worth the time as the opening to a series.
I was attracted to this book because of its cover design and the title. I was expecting a post-apocalyptic kind of story where the Earth is destroyed and some very rich man building a spaceship to carry an elite crew off the planet to save humanity. When I read the book, I found it was much more than what I expected.
This is a story full of humanistic ideas and interactions between two timelines. There are many twists and turns making the story compelling. The plot is driven by well-developed characters that a reader can truly care about and relate to. It is a tale of people forming relationships depending on cooperation for survival. It suggests just what humanity can do if people work together.
A reader will find this book hard to set aside once it is opened.
The Earth has somehow been destroyed and Constance Roy, an environmental scientist along with forty-eight others, are taken aboard the Orb, a huge space vessel that is in orbit around the planet Jupiter. Constance and the rest of the humans are watched over by an automaton race of beings calling themselves Curators. Everything on board Orb is provided except for the solution to the problem of where to go before the ship's orbit decays and is crushed in the Jovian planet's atmosphere.
In another timeline on modern day Earth, Constance goes about her life as a single mom raising a son who appears to be someone very special. The youngster, Nicolas, appears to have a special gift of being able to understand things far beyond his age.
Onboard the Orb, the Curators have given up on any possibility that the humans will save themselves. Their bickering and single-mindedness seem to get in the way.
Just when all seems lost, the timelines collide. Nicolas's mother Constance makes a sacrifice, and the boy helps Constance in the Orb timeline to solve the problems. Convinced there is no hope for the future of humanity, the Curators seek to kill Nicolas, but Constance fights to make sure the boy can give hope to what is left of Earth's population to start over on a new world.
When Earth Shall Be No More is told from Constance Roy's point of view in both timelines.
Constance on the Orb and on Earth both have the same personalities. They think, talk, and act alike. Both are analytical and are good problem solvers. The difference between the two is their focus on the problems they face. Orb Constance is trying to find the target planet to settle on by following a string of cryptic clues left behind by a friend while the Earth version is concerned mostly with her son and his wellbeing. Earth Constance does not know what is happening when a mysterious stranger arrives on the scene and tries to kidnap Nicolas.
My favorite point of plot in this tale is how Nicolas has been nurtured to appreciate science and what it can offer to solve problems. She encourages Nicolas to read books and learn all he can about the things he is interested in. This alone makes the child a force in the future survival of humanity.
My takeaway from this story is how one should never underestimate the powers of a young person who is full of wonder and curiosity. One such individual can be both an inspiration and can present a unique point of view to the solution of a problem.
This book is an easy-to-read story that flows along at a good pace and will hold a reader's attention. It is an uncommon science fiction thriller that runs the entire spectrum of emotional content and is well worth the time as the opening to a series.
September 1, 2024
I found the premise very interesting. One woman in two parallel universes. While who she isn't doesn't change, everything else in both worlds is far different. I enjoyed the majority of this. I am always intrigued by sci-fi books. Some bits of this seemed rushed and not thoroughly thought out, so that's the reasoning for the 3 star rating. Otherwise, I enjoyed it.
I won this from a Goodreads giveaway. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this from a Goodreads giveaway. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
February 18, 2022
Thank you for the opportunity to this book as part of a Giveaways.
I quite enjoyed this book! It was written well, and maintained a sense of discovery and tension throughout. The story was interesting and well crafted, even with an "aha" moment in the middle. Well done!
I quite enjoyed this book! It was written well, and maintained a sense of discovery and tension throughout. The story was interesting and well crafted, even with an "aha" moment in the middle. Well done!
March 5, 2022
Captured my attention from the start
This was a well written story with unexpected twists and good character development.
Space, parallel worlds and time confluence all wrapped
up together.
This was a well written story with unexpected twists and good character development.
Space, parallel worlds and time confluence all wrapped
up together.
May 12, 2022
--ARC provided by LibraryThing and Secant Publishing in exchange for an honest review.--
I'd prefer to give this book 3.5 stars, but will settle on a strong 3; When Earth Shall Be No More is a well-imagined SF novel, but not fully realized in the execution. The premise is a strong one, playing out a plot that requires mingling between separate multiverse-streams to resolve. There is good planning behind the backstory of the main plot, and in the nature of the Curators themselves. I did become quite invested in the story and some characters, particularly 10-year-old Nicholas.
However, the pacing for the first 2/3 of the novel is ragged; it's tough enough for a reader when the author(s) choose to jump back and forth rapidly between Thread A and Thread B in brief bites, but necessary data are repeatedly withheld, hindering the development. It's as if this is a working draft that wants a bit more fleshing out. There were also two primary cast-related problems for me. First, the main character of Thread A, Constance (Earth), is not given much range of reaction/emotion: she either behaves defensively and curtly with adults or in a hovering, micro-managing way to her young son. Whatever depth she may have, we don't get to see it, so she plays out like a wire-frame more than a fleshed-out person. The second is with the Curators: the revelation of their nature is a highlight of the novel, but they are so little questioned until then that it seems as if the authors expect the reader to somehow apprehend the significance intended for them without actually showing it.
Maybe this would have been an exceptional release in 1982, but the competition for shelf space in SFF now includes the likes of Reynolds, Tchaikovsky, Martine, and Flynn; this is simply not written to that calibre. Also, for the Love of Whatever: it's "garbage chute" NOT "garbage shoot."
I'd prefer to give this book 3.5 stars, but will settle on a strong 3; When Earth Shall Be No More is a well-imagined SF novel, but not fully realized in the execution. The premise is a strong one, playing out a plot that requires mingling between separate multiverse-streams to resolve. There is good planning behind the backstory of the main plot, and in the nature of the Curators themselves. I did become quite invested in the story and some characters, particularly 10-year-old Nicholas.
However, the pacing for the first 2/3 of the novel is ragged; it's tough enough for a reader when the author(s) choose to jump back and forth rapidly between Thread A and Thread B in brief bites, but necessary data are repeatedly withheld, hindering the development. It's as if this is a working draft that wants a bit more fleshing out. There were also two primary cast-related problems for me. First, the main character of Thread A, Constance (Earth), is not given much range of reaction/emotion: she either behaves defensively and curtly with adults or in a hovering, micro-managing way to her young son. Whatever depth she may have, we don't get to see it, so she plays out like a wire-frame more than a fleshed-out person. The second is with the Curators: the revelation of their nature is a highlight of the novel, but they are so little questioned until then that it seems as if the authors expect the reader to somehow apprehend the significance intended for them without actually showing it.
Maybe this would have been an exceptional release in 1982, but the competition for shelf space in SFF now includes the likes of Reynolds, Tchaikovsky, Martine, and Flynn; this is simply not written to that calibre. Also, for the Love of Whatever: it's "garbage chute" NOT "garbage shoot."
April 5, 2022
I received an ARC of this title from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
And honest I will be. This book was fantastic!! It is one of the best science fiction books I have read in quite some time. It appears to be part of a planned trilogy by husband and wife, Paul Awad and Kathryn O' Sullivan, and I will most definitely be awaiting the rest of the story.
That being said, this story would be perfectly fine if it ended here.
I was initially intrigued when I glanced at the Table of Contents and saw two chapter ones and two chapter twos and so on. Each couple had one chapter labeled "Orb" and another chapter labeled "Earth." As I began reading, I thought that the "Orb" chapters were present time and the "Earth" chapters were in the past, before the adventure began.
I was not exactly correct about that, much to my delight. I won't say much else about that, so as not to be guilty of spoilage, but I will say it is much, MUCH more complicated and complex than that.
In this tale, Constance Roy is a scientist, the child of two other scientists. Her mother had perished while performing an experiment in efforts to save humanity, because it had been realized that Earth would soon be destroyed. In the "Orb" chapters, Constance is on an Orb, or a spaceship of sorts, in orbit around Jupiter, along with a few dozen other humans, some animals that had been saved, and some beings simply known as The Curators. The technology of the Orb was technology developed by The Curators, and shared with a corporation on earth, for which Constance's parents had worked.
In the "Earth" chapters, we see what seems to be an earlier Constance, who has not yet met the head of the corporation, and has a son named Nicholas.
The Orb is losing ground in its orbit, which is deteriorating, and it is only a matter of time before the ship crashed into Jupiter's Red Spot, killing all of them, and dashing humanity's hopes of survival.
Events on Earth, are progressing as Constance meets people who are involved with the building of the Orb and the search for the new planet for them to live on.
The character development is great, in my opinion. But here's the thing. Once I realized what was going on, I was absolutely hooked! The only hint I will give to this is that after "Chapter 18: Orb," there are only single chapters for the rest of the book. The concept presented here is stunning and so very well done. I will admit that it had my head spinning a few times, but in a most delightful way as I tried to wrap my head around what was happening. I want to say so much more, but, again, I don't want to include spoilers.
This, in my opinion, is a science fiction novel worthy of the Grand Masters, in the realm of Heinlein and Asimov and Clarke. To me, it is that good. It has restored my faith that good science fiction can still be found in this world.
Thank you, Book Sirens, for the opportunity to read and review this title!
And honest I will be. This book was fantastic!! It is one of the best science fiction books I have read in quite some time. It appears to be part of a planned trilogy by husband and wife, Paul Awad and Kathryn O' Sullivan, and I will most definitely be awaiting the rest of the story.
That being said, this story would be perfectly fine if it ended here.
I was initially intrigued when I glanced at the Table of Contents and saw two chapter ones and two chapter twos and so on. Each couple had one chapter labeled "Orb" and another chapter labeled "Earth." As I began reading, I thought that the "Orb" chapters were present time and the "Earth" chapters were in the past, before the adventure began.
I was not exactly correct about that, much to my delight. I won't say much else about that, so as not to be guilty of spoilage, but I will say it is much, MUCH more complicated and complex than that.
In this tale, Constance Roy is a scientist, the child of two other scientists. Her mother had perished while performing an experiment in efforts to save humanity, because it had been realized that Earth would soon be destroyed. In the "Orb" chapters, Constance is on an Orb, or a spaceship of sorts, in orbit around Jupiter, along with a few dozen other humans, some animals that had been saved, and some beings simply known as The Curators. The technology of the Orb was technology developed by The Curators, and shared with a corporation on earth, for which Constance's parents had worked.
In the "Earth" chapters, we see what seems to be an earlier Constance, who has not yet met the head of the corporation, and has a son named Nicholas.
The Orb is losing ground in its orbit, which is deteriorating, and it is only a matter of time before the ship crashed into Jupiter's Red Spot, killing all of them, and dashing humanity's hopes of survival.
Events on Earth, are progressing as Constance meets people who are involved with the building of the Orb and the search for the new planet for them to live on.
The character development is great, in my opinion. But here's the thing. Once I realized what was going on, I was absolutely hooked! The only hint I will give to this is that after "Chapter 18: Orb," there are only single chapters for the rest of the book. The concept presented here is stunning and so very well done. I will admit that it had my head spinning a few times, but in a most delightful way as I tried to wrap my head around what was happening. I want to say so much more, but, again, I don't want to include spoilers.
This, in my opinion, is a science fiction novel worthy of the Grand Masters, in the realm of Heinlein and Asimov and Clarke. To me, it is that good. It has restored my faith that good science fiction can still be found in this world.
Thank you, Book Sirens, for the opportunity to read and review this title!
May 7, 2022
This is a nice science fiction, adventure book. The story is told dually and joins near the middle to bring it all together.
There's a lot of mystery and action. I enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.
Received a complimentary copy from #secantpublishing wasn't under any obligation to leave a positive review.
There's a lot of mystery and action. I enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.
Received a complimentary copy from #secantpublishing wasn't under any obligation to leave a positive review.
April 25, 2022
This was an enjoyable and fun read. The plot was in many ways a typical sci-fi setup with its space ships, aliens, multiverse, and one person being the only one who could save the earth, and so on, but with plenty of nice twists and interesting aspects. The characters were well-developed and believable.
There were a couple of minor negative points. At one point, they look for a planet in a given constellation, but they are not on earth at that moment. The author appears to be unaware of the fact that stars in a constellation are not close together at all, just in more or less the same direction from earth (and vastly different distances away). So being 'in' a constellation makes no sense in 3D space. Then there is the whole dubious concept of, "it doesn't matter if we mess up earth, we will find a new planet". I know that this has been a staple of sci-fi for decades, but now that we know just what damage we are doing to the earth, that is actually quite a dangerous line of thinking. Releasing all sorts of other animal species onto a new planet is even more stupid. It is ironic (or maybe even on purpose?) that starlings are released. Someone once had the bizarre idea that they should release all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare in the USA, and they went ahead and did that, including starlings. That has caused quite a bit of environmental damage.
Nevertheless, those are minor points and in the end, this was a real page-turner that I enjoyed reading.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were a couple of minor negative points. At one point, they look for a planet in a given constellation, but they are not on earth at that moment. The author appears to be unaware of the fact that stars in a constellation are not close together at all, just in more or less the same direction from earth (and vastly different distances away). So being 'in' a constellation makes no sense in 3D space. Then there is the whole dubious concept of, "it doesn't matter if we mess up earth, we will find a new planet". I know that this has been a staple of sci-fi for decades, but now that we know just what damage we are doing to the earth, that is actually quite a dangerous line of thinking. Releasing all sorts of other animal species onto a new planet is even more stupid. It is ironic (or maybe even on purpose?) that starlings are released. Someone once had the bizarre idea that they should release all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare in the USA, and they went ahead and did that, including starlings. That has caused quite a bit of environmental damage.
Nevertheless, those are minor points and in the end, this was a real page-turner that I enjoyed reading.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 22, 2022
This is the first novel by Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan https://kathrynosullivan.com. When Earth Shall Be No More was published in 2022. It is the first in a planned trilogy.
I received an ARC of this book through promotion on BookSirens with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to a few scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as PG. The primary character is environmental scientist Constance Roy, but she is present in two parallel universes.
In one, Roy is one of a handful of people rescued from a doomed Earth and taken to the Orb. The Orb is an Ark spaceship currently orbiting Jupiter. Their saviors are an alien race simply referred to as the Curators. After nearly a year, their orbit is beginning to decay. A new home for humanity is still being sought and there only seems a short time left.
In the other, Roy is a single mother trying to discover what happened to her mother. She has been supported for years by a mysterious Foundation. When the two universes cross, she discovers that the key to saving the Orb Roy lies in her son, Nicolas.
I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 316-page science fiction novel. I thought that this was an odd story. It did have some of the familiar tropes of a “dying Earth”, but having the same character in two parallel universes is a unique twist. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through promotion on BookSirens with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to a few scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as PG. The primary character is environmental scientist Constance Roy, but she is present in two parallel universes.
In one, Roy is one of a handful of people rescued from a doomed Earth and taken to the Orb. The Orb is an Ark spaceship currently orbiting Jupiter. Their saviors are an alien race simply referred to as the Curators. After nearly a year, their orbit is beginning to decay. A new home for humanity is still being sought and there only seems a short time left.
In the other, Roy is a single mother trying to discover what happened to her mother. She has been supported for years by a mysterious Foundation. When the two universes cross, she discovers that the key to saving the Orb Roy lies in her son, Nicolas.
I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 316-page science fiction novel. I thought that this was an odd story. It did have some of the familiar tropes of a “dying Earth”, but having the same character in two parallel universes is a unique twist. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
March 8, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If I could, I'd give this 3 1/2 stars.
Very good plotting, & it held my interest. The characters were ok, I only really felt thouroughly connected with Constance.
The problem is the 2 authors are telling 2 stories in 1, & especially before I understood what they were doing, it was a bit confusing. What's actually happening is there are 2 parallel universes, mostly populated with the same people, & the 2 authors just jump back & forth between the 2 with no explanation. Until about halfway through, I mistakenly assumed it was jumping from earlier events to later events, but that was not the case. I finally picked up on the parallel universe thing about 1/2 way through.
IMO, the book would have been much more comprehensible if each chapter had only included 1 of the universes. But literally, there are sections where one paragraph is Universe #1 & the next is #2.
I think to really understand the book, I would need to read it a second time with that knowledge. It's probably good enough for a second read, but I have too many unread books to go there right now.
Though the above could technically be considered a spoiler, I wish someone would have shared that information with me before I read it.
Be interested to see future work without this problem, their Universe(s) are interesting.
If I could, I'd give this 3 1/2 stars.
Very good plotting, & it held my interest. The characters were ok, I only really felt thouroughly connected with Constance.
The problem is the 2 authors are telling 2 stories in 1, & especially before I understood what they were doing, it was a bit confusing. What's actually happening is there are 2 parallel universes, mostly populated with the same people, & the 2 authors just jump back & forth between the 2 with no explanation. Until about halfway through, I mistakenly assumed it was jumping from earlier events to later events, but that was not the case. I finally picked up on the parallel universe thing about 1/2 way through.
IMO, the book would have been much more comprehensible if each chapter had only included 1 of the universes. But literally, there are sections where one paragraph is Universe #1 & the next is #2.
I think to really understand the book, I would need to read it a second time with that knowledge. It's probably good enough for a second read, but I have too many unread books to go there right now.
Though the above could technically be considered a spoiler, I wish someone would have shared that information with me before I read it.
Be interested to see future work without this problem, their Universe(s) are interesting.
May 22, 2022
I think duel universes is always a solid starting point for a sci-fi story. And I like the way you are given both stories simultaneously without ever losing track of which universe you are in at any given moment. But some things in this story just didn't come together for me. Especially with Nicolas saving all of humankind. I was never really sure how what he did proved what it was supposed to prove. And at the end there were a couple of things that were kind of resolved but still left me with questions. And there were times when situations were presented with more gravitas then they actually ended up having. Probably to build tension and suspense, but what it led to was me being a little disappointed with the solution. You have a spaceship and all souls on board about to be destroyed by Jupiter's gravity, creepy Curators running around and you don't know if they are friend or foe, experiments into traveling between universes, and a young boy who has to make some life and death decisions. There should be tension and suspense enough without forcing it. I did like the concept of the Curators, what they were and where they came from. And they were suitably creepy. I liked Nicolas and you did care what happened to him. And towards the end there was a good amount of tension and suspense that kept you reading. For me the good and not so good balanced out into an okay story. It is neither great nor bad.
February 9, 2022
Thanks for the ARC.
A straightforward sci-fi mystery story. The story doesn't push the envelope creatively, but it would be a nice beach read. The chapters are written well enough and end on a hook that make you say "ok, let's see where this goes."
They do a good job at slowly peeling away the mystery so your mind races ahead "solve" it ahead of the reveals. Characterization was fairly stock across the board, and a few hooks or impactful sentences were phrased in a way that lessened their impact.
I enjoyed that Kathryn clearly has a thing for horses from her previous titles & setting with Chincoteague Island, and appreciate she kept the horses in, even in space.. We always have to include what we love.
A straightforward sci-fi mystery story. The story doesn't push the envelope creatively, but it would be a nice beach read. The chapters are written well enough and end on a hook that make you say "ok, let's see where this goes."
They do a good job at slowly peeling away the mystery so your mind races ahead "solve" it ahead of the reveals. Characterization was fairly stock across the board, and a few hooks or impactful sentences were phrased in a way that lessened their impact.
I enjoyed that Kathryn clearly has a thing for horses from her previous titles & setting with Chincoteague Island, and appreciate she kept the horses in, even in space.. We always have to include what we love.
March 2, 2022
I really would rate this a 3.5-4 star.
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
Earth has been destroyed and a small group of survivors are trying to find a new home, while in another timeline some of the same characters are also trying to find a new home for Earth. There is a group that shows up, the Curators, are they good? are they bad? Will the original group find a new world to live in?
This book starts out kind of slow, but about 1/3 of the book picks up ... and after the halfway point I couldn't put it down ... I wanted to know what was going to happen next..... which is generally what you're looking for in a book. If the beginning was better, this would've rated a solid 4 star from me.
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
Earth has been destroyed and a small group of survivors are trying to find a new home, while in another timeline some of the same characters are also trying to find a new home for Earth. There is a group that shows up, the Curators, are they good? are they bad? Will the original group find a new world to live in?
This book starts out kind of slow, but about 1/3 of the book picks up ... and after the halfway point I couldn't put it down ... I wanted to know what was going to happen next..... which is generally what you're looking for in a book. If the beginning was better, this would've rated a solid 4 star from me.
May 24, 2022
A delightful read that pulled me in from page one!! This work has most everything I would desire in a store of fantastic imaginings. The book is loaded with ideas and interesting characters that orchestrates a page turning story filled with mystery, suspense, and of course wonder.
I’ve been a reader of science fiction for years, but have not been so active a reader of late. Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan’s fine book most definitely lead me back to the reasons why I first became in-love with this genre. I also found enjoyed some connections to elements of past science fiction films in the book, and the short chapter format rocks!! It fuels the excitement.
I highly recommend it for all readers who will find Lots! to enjoy.
I’ve been a reader of science fiction for years, but have not been so active a reader of late. Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan’s fine book most definitely lead me back to the reasons why I first became in-love with this genre. I also found enjoyed some connections to elements of past science fiction films in the book, and the short chapter format rocks!! It fuels the excitement.
I highly recommend it for all readers who will find Lots! to enjoy.
March 20, 2022
When Earth Shall Be No More Book 1 by Paul Award and Kathryn O'Sullivan. This SiFi book was interesting and very exciting. There are parallel Earth's and Constance is a scientist with a son, Nicholas, on both Earths. I found that I had to read carefully to keep everything that was happening straight. I thought the story was fast paced and very exciting as the reader went back and forth between universes. I can't wait to see what happens in book 2. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
April 23, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I started reading this book and at first was not taken into to the story - however very quickly I was immersed in the parallel stories, not different time lines but other dimensions come into this tale of the young scientist Constance, her father, mother, son and those that befriend/love her in both dimensions.
This is a part of a series and the book ends naturally and is a very rewarding standalone. I would want to read more about Constance and her family and friends.
This is a part of a series and the book ends naturally and is a very rewarding standalone. I would want to read more about Constance and her family and friends.
June 26, 2024
Captivating, thrilling, and hard to put down. The main qualities I search for in a sci-fi book were well developed in this beautiful work. If you’re looking for a page-turner that will be memorable even if you speed through it, this is the one! Even if you think sci-fi is too niche for you, I encourage you to give it a shot. Don’t judge a book by its cover, you just may really enjoy this one like I did! Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the opportunity to enjoy this book.
April 8, 2022
Thank you @booksirens and the author for the ARC.
I really enjoyed reading this book! Very interesting plot so much so I couldn’t stop reading. It is really engaging and very well written. I really liked the idea of parallel universes! Thank you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed reading this book! Very interesting plot so much so I couldn’t stop reading. It is really engaging and very well written. I really liked the idea of parallel universes! Thank you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 30, 2023
Very good, fast paced sci-fi. There is a tiny romance side plot which was tolerable, but the end of chapter 39 gives reference to the main characters having intercourse, which was not appreciated. Aside from this though, I quite enjoyed the book, and look forward to reading the prospective books for the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
Definitely a page turner
I couldn’t put this book down! Read it in two days. I hope these authors write more…could this become a series? I hope so. Far exceeded my expectations a great sci-fi read.
I couldn’t put this book down! Read it in two days. I hope these authors write more…could this become a series? I hope so. Far exceeded my expectations a great sci-fi read.
January 7, 2024
Well written and intricately plotted science fiction. It’s always a pleasure to try a new author ( or in this case authors) and find a book which is as good as this one. Apparently this is the first of a new series and I look forward to reading more from them and seeing where the story takes us.
June 21, 2022
An interesting premise but clunky dialogue and an inability to move the plot forward let it down.
May 20, 2023
awesome
Great book. Great read. I just got back from visiting the island and saw this book and had to read it.
Great book. Great read. I just got back from visiting the island and saw this book and had to read it.
May 9, 2024
I just finished reading When Earth Shall Be No More, by Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan.
Earth is gone, and scientist Constance Roy and a handful of others are some of the lucky ones to escape before the planet was destroyed. But something is wrong with their spaceship, and they are slowly being pulled into Jupiter’s gravitational field.
This is a fun story full of imaginative descriptions of life onboard an intergalactic ark, with lots of interesting twists and turns along the way. I like the way the authors describe parallel worlds, time and space travel, and artificial intelligence.
I always thought I understood what was going on at NASA’s Wallop’s Flight Facility on Wallops Island. Now I’m not so sure…
Earth is gone, and scientist Constance Roy and a handful of others are some of the lucky ones to escape before the planet was destroyed. But something is wrong with their spaceship, and they are slowly being pulled into Jupiter’s gravitational field.
This is a fun story full of imaginative descriptions of life onboard an intergalactic ark, with lots of interesting twists and turns along the way. I like the way the authors describe parallel worlds, time and space travel, and artificial intelligence.
I always thought I understood what was going on at NASA’s Wallop’s Flight Facility on Wallops Island. Now I’m not so sure…
March 19, 2023
I heard about this book from a friend and didn't know anything about it, which is a great way to go in. It's a contemporary science fiction story, but it's very character-focused and has a feel that is very human and thoroughly grounded in reality. Not that it lacks a plot--in fact, the premise and story were my favorite elements here, and as a Virginian I also deeply appreciated the settings.
To start with, the story is truly original, at least as far as the science fiction I have read (off and on for 40 years). Through the eyes of the main character Constance Roy, we get to explore multiple possibilities through which the full and far-reaching tale unfolds. By keeping us in Constance's POV, the authors pull us into a world, and a situation, that is fantastical but also believable. The story is suspenseful, compelling, and well-paced, and the premise intelligently postulates on humanity's current reality as well as our future.
The prose is clean and simple and well-fitted to the pace of the novel. I did feel that I wanted the authors to slow down a bit, to give Constance--and the readers--more room to be in the moment and feel a bit more of what was happening. More narrative detail and depth would have felt more immersive. The moments of dialog were where the prose shines, with simple and clean yet believable lines that move the story along. I enjoyed the characters for the most part, but this was an area where I really wanted more development and complexity, particularly with the mother-child relationship and the interactions of Constance's ship-mates. There is, as with most SF books, a bit of infodumping in the beginning and at one or two other spots, but overall the unfolding of the world is handled well.
In general, I feel like this is a solid and very enjoyable read that could have been absolutely outstanding with a deeper dive into the details of the characters' lives and the intricacies of this interesting world. If these authors write more, I will definitely check out future works.
To start with, the story is truly original, at least as far as the science fiction I have read (off and on for 40 years). Through the eyes of the main character Constance Roy, we get to explore multiple possibilities through which the full and far-reaching tale unfolds. By keeping us in Constance's POV, the authors pull us into a world, and a situation, that is fantastical but also believable. The story is suspenseful, compelling, and well-paced, and the premise intelligently postulates on humanity's current reality as well as our future.
The prose is clean and simple and well-fitted to the pace of the novel. I did feel that I wanted the authors to slow down a bit, to give Constance--and the readers--more room to be in the moment and feel a bit more of what was happening. More narrative detail and depth would have felt more immersive. The moments of dialog were where the prose shines, with simple and clean yet believable lines that move the story along. I enjoyed the characters for the most part, but this was an area where I really wanted more development and complexity, particularly with the mother-child relationship and the interactions of Constance's ship-mates. There is, as with most SF books, a bit of infodumping in the beginning and at one or two other spots, but overall the unfolding of the world is handled well.
In general, I feel like this is a solid and very enjoyable read that could have been absolutely outstanding with a deeper dive into the details of the characters' lives and the intricacies of this interesting world. If these authors write more, I will definitely check out future works.
March 17, 2023
I would recommend this book! It slowly grew on me. While it’s definitely not one of my favorites, it was worth reading in the end because I always enjoy parallel lives/universe stories, as well as the mother-son dynamic (as the mom of two boys, more of this please!). The plot dominated any character development, the narrative was slow and plodding at times, but apparently it’s part of a planned trilogy, so perhaps they will dive deeper and pick up the action in the next book. Reminded me almost of an X-Files episode, especially midway through.
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