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H2LiftShips-BosonsWave
We've tried to make a nice, friendly Space Opera.
Sure it has passive-aggressive families, gambling, cheating, and double-dealing, but nice. Still, watch your back.
SolarSail Cargo ships travel between the populated asteroids and Goldilocks Core.
And now HiveMother at the Heliopause and the HiveSisters in the Heliotail are fighting.
It may turn into a full-fledged bioGel War.
The Solar Sail crew of BosonsWave and Captain Herb, an Eastern mountain gorilla in the Heliospheric Navy, are fighting the algae rocket ships for control of the bioGels.
On one side, we have tools and weapons invented by the sentients after eons of development: bioGel laser rifles, HAM radios, ship-to-ship bolas, nuclear bombs, biological weapons, and a tomato surprise.
On the other side, accumulations of brainless algae have joined with angry bioGel computers calling the shots.
Captain Graciela, her crew, and the Heliospheric Navy have a battle on their hands.
Sure it has passive-aggressive families, gambling, cheating, and double-dealing, but nice. Still, watch your back.
SolarSail Cargo ships travel between the populated asteroids and Goldilocks Core.
And now HiveMother at the Heliopause and the HiveSisters in the Heliotail are fighting.
It may turn into a full-fledged bioGel War.
The Solar Sail crew of BosonsWave and Captain Herb, an Eastern mountain gorilla in the Heliospheric Navy, are fighting the algae rocket ships for control of the bioGels.
On one side, we have tools and weapons invented by the sentients after eons of development: bioGel laser rifles, HAM radios, ship-to-ship bolas, nuclear bombs, biological weapons, and a tomato surprise.
On the other side, accumulations of brainless algae have joined with angry bioGel computers calling the shots.
Captain Graciela, her crew, and the Heliospheric Navy have a battle on their hands.
244 pages, ebook
Published August 3, 2022
11 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
July 26, 2022
Beyond Luna is the first book in the H2LiftShip science-fiction series by author Bob Freeman. This book was so wildly adventurous that I could not stop myself from starting to read the next book in the series right after I was done reading this book. But first things first, this book had an amazing plot, excellent execution of that plot, good writing to bring it to life and well-built characters to bring it all together.
It was an immensely immersive read and the world-building was simply out of the world (pud definitely intended ;)
I liked the authors writing and the new creatures in the book were definitely created with a lot of careful consideration. I enjoyed reading about them and cared enough about their character development to read the entire book and was left wanting to read more.
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You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
I would definitely suggest this book to all science-fiction readers who are looking for a new series to start.
It was an immensely immersive read and the world-building was simply out of the world (pud definitely intended ;)
I liked the authors writing and the new creatures in the book were definitely created with a lot of careful consideration. I enjoyed reading about them and cared enough about their character development to read the entire book and was left wanting to read more.
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You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
I would definitely suggest this book to all science-fiction readers who are looking for a new series to start.
August 2, 2022
H2LiftShip: A Back Story by Bob Freeman is the second book in the series and a sequel to Beyond Luna. After the first book, which was written in a very unique was more like a technical manual than a straight story, this book had a more coherent storyline that was easier to follow making this book a tad better than the first one (though I did like the first one too, it's just the flow that I am referring to here in terms of being better.)
This book had a lot of interesting insights, more side-plots and character development and helped the overall world-building for the entire series to a great extent so I really liked this book too. Now I am looking forward to finishing the last book in this series (which I have already started!)
Again, I'd recommend this book to anyone who has read the first book in this series and anyone wanting to explore a new sci-fi series or a sci-fi author.
__________________________
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
This book had a lot of interesting insights, more side-plots and character development and helped the overall world-building for the entire series to a great extent so I really liked this book too. Now I am looking forward to finishing the last book in this series (which I have already started!)
Again, I'd recommend this book to anyone who has read the first book in this series and anyone wanting to explore a new sci-fi series or a sci-fi author.
__________________________
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
August 27, 2022
Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman is a Sci-fi novel about space exploration. It is the first book in the H2LiftShips series, the others being “A Backstory” and “Bosons Wave”.
While Beyond Luna talks of a lot of other spaceships, the core of the story centers around the voyage of LunaCola and her efficient multi-specie crew of humans, canines (dogs), simians, and a mollusk, especially the star characters, Jack San Freedog Jr. (an Australian Shepherd) and Tangsapor Kewellan Candrey (an orangutan). The book creates a vivid image of what exploring life beyond Earth is like, especially when aboard a spaceship where one slip or error can mean doom and certain death. So every crew member; Captain, First Mate, Boost Crew, Compressor Crew, Pumper Crew, and Rocket Maintenance Crew, are all responsible for each other’s lives.
Unlike most Sci-fi writers, Bob Freeman truly goes beyond the ordinary in this book. He indeed takes our minds on a celestial expedition, breaking the shackles of limitations and embracing the endless possibilities of what science fiction is. His immersion of humans alongside animals in the book is indeed one that stretches the mind to accept that science fiction believes in all possibilities. Even more, his use of the animal characters as the major characters in the story is reminiscent of an artist who is willing to dare to be exceptional in his art, and Bob Freeman showed exceptionality with aplomb.
Beyond Luna is a captivating story of the quest of man, alongside animals, to discover, learn, and pursue new frontiers of knowledge and life sustainability for living things. The journey isn’t all fraught with dangers, as there were also beautiful and memorable encounters, such as the visit to Vesta, and moments of humor, such as when Jack had to present a party gift to their host, EllGi, while her intimidating, muscular hunk of a mate (Kaskae) was watching. It took some diplomatic intervention from Tang to save his hide.
While I enjoyed Beyond Luna thoroughly, I cannot say the same for everyone else. This is not a book for every reader, sadly, and even regular Sci-fi novel readers won’t have a field day comprehending some aspects of the book. Some could say that this is a thumbs down for the book, but I couldn’t disagree more. Books are classified into genres for a reason, and this masterpiece falls into the genre for those who know their science well enough to be able to enjoy a science fiction novel. So as far as all things science fiction goes, I’ll rate this book five stars out of five, because it indeed went beyond the moon in meeting my expectations for a book of this genre.
Undoubtedly, Bob Freeman lives up to his name in his work, Beyond Luna. He certainly freed our minds, and for all lovers of books that unshackle the mind to endless possibilities, this is a book you don’t want to miss reading. Of a truth, Beyond Luna(r) would take you over the moon.
While Beyond Luna talks of a lot of other spaceships, the core of the story centers around the voyage of LunaCola and her efficient multi-specie crew of humans, canines (dogs), simians, and a mollusk, especially the star characters, Jack San Freedog Jr. (an Australian Shepherd) and Tangsapor Kewellan Candrey (an orangutan). The book creates a vivid image of what exploring life beyond Earth is like, especially when aboard a spaceship where one slip or error can mean doom and certain death. So every crew member; Captain, First Mate, Boost Crew, Compressor Crew, Pumper Crew, and Rocket Maintenance Crew, are all responsible for each other’s lives.
Unlike most Sci-fi writers, Bob Freeman truly goes beyond the ordinary in this book. He indeed takes our minds on a celestial expedition, breaking the shackles of limitations and embracing the endless possibilities of what science fiction is. His immersion of humans alongside animals in the book is indeed one that stretches the mind to accept that science fiction believes in all possibilities. Even more, his use of the animal characters as the major characters in the story is reminiscent of an artist who is willing to dare to be exceptional in his art, and Bob Freeman showed exceptionality with aplomb.
Beyond Luna is a captivating story of the quest of man, alongside animals, to discover, learn, and pursue new frontiers of knowledge and life sustainability for living things. The journey isn’t all fraught with dangers, as there were also beautiful and memorable encounters, such as the visit to Vesta, and moments of humor, such as when Jack had to present a party gift to their host, EllGi, while her intimidating, muscular hunk of a mate (Kaskae) was watching. It took some diplomatic intervention from Tang to save his hide.
While I enjoyed Beyond Luna thoroughly, I cannot say the same for everyone else. This is not a book for every reader, sadly, and even regular Sci-fi novel readers won’t have a field day comprehending some aspects of the book. Some could say that this is a thumbs down for the book, but I couldn’t disagree more. Books are classified into genres for a reason, and this masterpiece falls into the genre for those who know their science well enough to be able to enjoy a science fiction novel. So as far as all things science fiction goes, I’ll rate this book five stars out of five, because it indeed went beyond the moon in meeting my expectations for a book of this genre.
Undoubtedly, Bob Freeman lives up to his name in his work, Beyond Luna. He certainly freed our minds, and for all lovers of books that unshackle the mind to endless possibilities, this is a book you don’t want to miss reading. Of a truth, Beyond Luna(r) would take you over the moon.
December 29, 2021
H2LiftShips-Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman
Check out the review on my blog- https://inscribedinklings.wordpress.c...
Beyond Luna was one of a kind sci-fi book /manual/ cyber punk novel all in one package. As I started off the book, it was hard for me to comprehend everything that was happening. But after finishing couple of chapter, it was much easier to read. The book is exactly as described in the blurb. It is manual of sorts about a the future where people are settled all over space, especially on Luna- the moon.
The writing style was eloquent and ponderous. The tone of the book was whacky and earnest. The theme of the book was getting the readers acquainted with this new world and how it functioned. The book was not your typical sci-fi fiction for sure. It mainly focused on explaining how everything worked in Luna. Earth was the Home World and H2LiftShips were the ships that travelled across to get cargo.
Our main characters were in one such H2LiftShips called Luna Cola. Graciela was the Captain, she was a human female. The first mate and navigator was an octopus. The deckhands were Tang, an orangutan and Jack, a dog. Some species such as canines and apes after evolution began conversing with good cognitive skills in this world.
We follow their journey as they trade their goods in different places. In the second half of the book, a new character pops up which livens up the story. Ponos was a miner who got injured. He was now stuck in one place until he healed up. He needed to depend on gig work in order to earn his money.
After this part, the two stories collide in an unexpected way. The ending was shocking and exciting. For me, what worked best in the book was the quirky banter between Tang and Jack. They were polar opposites in so many things and yet they were loyal to each other. I would recommend this book to hardcore sci-fi fans.
- Afreen
Check out the review on my blog- https://inscribedinklings.wordpress.c...
Beyond Luna was one of a kind sci-fi book /manual/ cyber punk novel all in one package. As I started off the book, it was hard for me to comprehend everything that was happening. But after finishing couple of chapter, it was much easier to read. The book is exactly as described in the blurb. It is manual of sorts about a the future where people are settled all over space, especially on Luna- the moon.
The writing style was eloquent and ponderous. The tone of the book was whacky and earnest. The theme of the book was getting the readers acquainted with this new world and how it functioned. The book was not your typical sci-fi fiction for sure. It mainly focused on explaining how everything worked in Luna. Earth was the Home World and H2LiftShips were the ships that travelled across to get cargo.
Our main characters were in one such H2LiftShips called Luna Cola. Graciela was the Captain, she was a human female. The first mate and navigator was an octopus. The deckhands were Tang, an orangutan and Jack, a dog. Some species such as canines and apes after evolution began conversing with good cognitive skills in this world.
We follow their journey as they trade their goods in different places. In the second half of the book, a new character pops up which livens up the story. Ponos was a miner who got injured. He was now stuck in one place until he healed up. He needed to depend on gig work in order to earn his money.
After this part, the two stories collide in an unexpected way. The ending was shocking and exciting. For me, what worked best in the book was the quirky banter between Tang and Jack. They were polar opposites in so many things and yet they were loyal to each other. I would recommend this book to hardcore sci-fi fans.
- Afreen
February 5, 2024
Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman is a sci-fi novel about space exploration. It is the first book in the H2Liftships series. Followed by A Backstory and Bosons Wave.
I loved the multi-specie crew of human, mollusk, canines, orangutan and a shepherd dog. The story centers around them and their journey to Luna Cola. At the start, I was a little confused but as the story progressed I understood it and loved it. It has an amazing plot. The Author's writing takes us to the space with his extraordinary writing and world-building.
This is a captivating story. It mainly focused on how everything works in Luna. Overall, I loved this book and would recommend to sci-fi fans.
I loved the multi-specie crew of human, mollusk, canines, orangutan and a shepherd dog. The story centers around them and their journey to Luna Cola. At the start, I was a little confused but as the story progressed I understood it and loved it. It has an amazing plot. The Author's writing takes us to the space with his extraordinary writing and world-building.
This is a captivating story. It mainly focused on how everything works in Luna. Overall, I loved this book and would recommend to sci-fi fans.
February 5, 2024
This book is a peculiar and refreshing take on space-based explorations. This is the second book in the series and a sequel to Beyond Luna. This book has a clear storyline that is easier to follow. This book has a lot of interesting side characters. I loved the character development and world-building. Overall, I loved this book and would strongly recommend it
January 14, 2024
It’s an adventurous book that takes you out on its journey through space. You have to like sci-fi in order to like this book.
Read
December 31, 2023I am one of the judges of the special hybrid team Epic Space Stars for the SPSFC3 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Cut
Read: 20%
This is another Team Epic book that is going to have a flurry of variable opinions on the judging team. And most of it is because it takes a huge array of creative risks. I like it when indie books divert from tried & true farmboy is truly the long-lost prince or the classic tropes of space operas with tons of laser beam zapping. Books with larger creative stakes are one of the things I enjoy the most reading Indie books. Released from the constraints of having to copy 'safe' and easily marketable story formulas, authors can write stories with the oddest worldbuilding ideas. Sometimes it works wonders and other times the book will have a niche of fans but it will never become mainstream.
I find it fun how this book tries to solve the huge problem of designing alternate rocket propulsion systems that are more ecofriendly. What I sorely wished we had gotten was an artist rendition of the standard issue H2LiftShips before the book began. I would have enjoyed the book a whole lot better if I had known just exactly what these ships are supposed to look like. Is it a hot air balloon? A zeppelin? Something that looks like a blend between wooden ship with satellite photonic solar energy antennas?
Given the book is supposed to be formatted as a sort of guide on how to take proper care of an H2LiftShip instead of a linear story, I felt the lack of knowing what the ship is supposed to look like took me out of the story. What we get instead is being blasted right in the middle of intelligent orangutan Tang's room as he dreams of reaching the lunar port to play Poker. That was easy to understand (and the book seems to remind readers every 10 pages Tang loves playing Poker whenever he has some free time). Whenever Tang has to manually open the solar energy sails upon escaping the moon's gravity, we get very confusing description about a lot of ropes and technical boat information that was hard for me to follow. Readers with a strong background knowledge of mast sail boats won't have any trouble reading, but including a few diagrams of how these ships work would have saved me a lot of troubles.
We also don't get a real explanation why these ships have additional temporary crew opening sails and then returning to Earth once the ship reaches orbit. Is it a faulty design or convenience? The book explains Captain Grace skimps on having a large crew to make more money, which makes sense to me. But I was confused from the scene of the crew floating in space dangerously close to the lure of the planet's gravity hold. Was that marketing ship? I didn't quite understand that chapter. Somehow Captain Grace was now showing some kind of Space Cola ad on her ship's sails, I wished this was explained a bit more clearly if the ship always shows ads or this was an additional last-minute business decision.
I would have wanted an introduction to Captain Grace and 1st mate Mr. Octopus (his name is never revealed) earlier in the story. We learn about them far too late in the story and don't get the chance to really interact with them. From the tech manual format of this book, this is another scene where I would have really loved artist renditions of the inside of the ship. An octopus water tank with dozens of complicated sail levers? Coooooolio! Wait... we don't quite get to see it. The book only mentions it is just there. I would have also loved to see artist renditions of the little dog's backpack vest with magnetically glued plastic wrenches and other tools that are operated with the dog's mouth. Or the little hamster wheel where the dog crew member runs during takeoff to generate enough static energy to fuse hydrogen and O2 into fuel.
One of the interesting and very bold creative decisions of this novel is having very few humans manning spaceships. Most ships will have intelligent monkeys hauling sails and pushing cargo boxes (not one single robot hauls cargo into trucks? I understand they can't have electric devices on the ships for fire hazard reasons, but not even on Earth?). Dogs use less space and can operate the hamster wheels for energy generation. And intelligent octopuses can manipulate endless sail levers with perfect limb coordination because these ships are too much of a fire explosion hazard to risk unnecesary electric circuitry. I really would have liked to learn more about how humans created these intelligent animals. The dog's 4 base math counting system scenes were great.
One thing I didn't quite understand was the need to have an insanely heavy orangutan as a crew member. Since these ships need to skimp on unneeded weight at all costs, wouldn't it make more sense to have a lighter sapient species like a baboon? I would find donning very small species like capuchin monkeys to operate ship maintenance would offer the best of both worlds combining simian hands and low weight.
I still liked the crew members from the scant few occasions the book talks about them during a rather regular return to Earath for their next cargo trip. If the book had been written a little bit more similarly to Senlin Ascends with very clear explanations of the technology alongside helpful drawings, I would have enjoyed this book a whole lot more.
I am certain plenty of readers will enjoy this unusual space story starring a mismatched duo of an orangutan with a gambling addiction and his loyal (just not very clever) dog friend named Jack. If the book had added diagrams and better explanations about why there aren't robots anywhere and the ship design, I would have liked it a lot. I feel this book has promise and should be held back for the quarterfinals to make these improvements and sign up for the contest again.
Status: Cut
Read: 20%
This is another Team Epic book that is going to have a flurry of variable opinions on the judging team. And most of it is because it takes a huge array of creative risks. I like it when indie books divert from tried & true farmboy is truly the long-lost prince or the classic tropes of space operas with tons of laser beam zapping. Books with larger creative stakes are one of the things I enjoy the most reading Indie books. Released from the constraints of having to copy 'safe' and easily marketable story formulas, authors can write stories with the oddest worldbuilding ideas. Sometimes it works wonders and other times the book will have a niche of fans but it will never become mainstream.
I find it fun how this book tries to solve the huge problem of designing alternate rocket propulsion systems that are more ecofriendly. What I sorely wished we had gotten was an artist rendition of the standard issue H2LiftShips before the book began. I would have enjoyed the book a whole lot better if I had known just exactly what these ships are supposed to look like. Is it a hot air balloon? A zeppelin? Something that looks like a blend between wooden ship with satellite photonic solar energy antennas?
Given the book is supposed to be formatted as a sort of guide on how to take proper care of an H2LiftShip instead of a linear story, I felt the lack of knowing what the ship is supposed to look like took me out of the story. What we get instead is being blasted right in the middle of intelligent orangutan Tang's room as he dreams of reaching the lunar port to play Poker. That was easy to understand (and the book seems to remind readers every 10 pages Tang loves playing Poker whenever he has some free time). Whenever Tang has to manually open the solar energy sails upon escaping the moon's gravity, we get very confusing description about a lot of ropes and technical boat information that was hard for me to follow. Readers with a strong background knowledge of mast sail boats won't have any trouble reading, but including a few diagrams of how these ships work would have saved me a lot of troubles.
We also don't get a real explanation why these ships have additional temporary crew opening sails and then returning to Earth once the ship reaches orbit. Is it a faulty design or convenience? The book explains Captain Grace skimps on having a large crew to make more money, which makes sense to me. But I was confused from the scene of the crew floating in space dangerously close to the lure of the planet's gravity hold. Was that marketing ship? I didn't quite understand that chapter. Somehow Captain Grace was now showing some kind of Space Cola ad on her ship's sails, I wished this was explained a bit more clearly if the ship always shows ads or this was an additional last-minute business decision.
I would have wanted an introduction to Captain Grace and 1st mate Mr. Octopus (his name is never revealed) earlier in the story. We learn about them far too late in the story and don't get the chance to really interact with them. From the tech manual format of this book, this is another scene where I would have really loved artist renditions of the inside of the ship. An octopus water tank with dozens of complicated sail levers? Coooooolio! Wait... we don't quite get to see it. The book only mentions it is just there. I would have also loved to see artist renditions of the little dog's backpack vest with magnetically glued plastic wrenches and other tools that are operated with the dog's mouth. Or the little hamster wheel where the dog crew member runs during takeoff to generate enough static energy to fuse hydrogen and O2 into fuel.
One of the interesting and very bold creative decisions of this novel is having very few humans manning spaceships. Most ships will have intelligent monkeys hauling sails and pushing cargo boxes (not one single robot hauls cargo into trucks? I understand they can't have electric devices on the ships for fire hazard reasons, but not even on Earth?). Dogs use less space and can operate the hamster wheels for energy generation. And intelligent octopuses can manipulate endless sail levers with perfect limb coordination because these ships are too much of a fire explosion hazard to risk unnecesary electric circuitry. I really would have liked to learn more about how humans created these intelligent animals. The dog's 4 base math counting system scenes were great.
One thing I didn't quite understand was the need to have an insanely heavy orangutan as a crew member. Since these ships need to skimp on unneeded weight at all costs, wouldn't it make more sense to have a lighter sapient species like a baboon? I would find donning very small species like capuchin monkeys to operate ship maintenance would offer the best of both worlds combining simian hands and low weight.
I still liked the crew members from the scant few occasions the book talks about them during a rather regular return to Earath for their next cargo trip. If the book had been written a little bit more similarly to Senlin Ascends with very clear explanations of the technology alongside helpful drawings, I would have enjoyed this book a whole lot more.
I am certain plenty of readers will enjoy this unusual space story starring a mismatched duo of an orangutan with a gambling addiction and his loyal (just not very clever) dog friend named Jack. If the book had added diagrams and better explanations about why there aren't robots anywhere and the ship design, I would have liked it a lot. I feel this book has promise and should be held back for the quarterfinals to make these improvements and sign up for the contest again.
August 13, 2022
H2LiftShip: Bosons Wave by Bob Freeman is the third book in the H2LiftShip series and a sequel to H2LiftShips: A Back Story. In this part, the last part of the trilogy, most of everything comes together providing the readers with a coherent and a much-needed respite-full ending.
The writing was much better in this book and the world-building went up a notch as did the characterisation as well as pretty much every other aspect. I am now really looking forward to exploring other titles by the author in the near future.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and this series, on the whole too, and would definitely recommend it to all science-fiction readers and to sci-fi-fantasy readers too.
_____________________________
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
The writing was much better in this book and the world-building went up a notch as did the characterisation as well as pretty much every other aspect. I am now really looking forward to exploring other titles by the author in the near future.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and this series, on the whole too, and would definitely recommend it to all science-fiction readers and to sci-fi-fantasy readers too.
_____________________________
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
September 25, 2022
I am a huge fan of creative sci-fi, but H2Liftships: Bosons Wave is by far the most creative thing I have read. The story is just so wild and wacky, it's hard not to get swept up in it. If you're looking for an original and thought-provoking read, this is the one for you!
Well written and dynamic characters, compelling plot and just an overall fun read!
I received a free copy for a fair and impartial review.
Well written and dynamic characters, compelling plot and just an overall fun read!
I received a free copy for a fair and impartial review.
Read
November 3, 2024Disclaimer: I read this as a judge for SPSFC#4, as part of Team Ground Control to Major Tom. However, the following is my own personal review and does not reflect on the team's score.
Beyond Luna belongs to that class of books that are one of the reasons why I love the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition. Here is another book that doesn't quite fit into any classification and finds itself out on a limb. It's not another space opera. It's not another military dystopia. It's just that little bit weird and without SPSFC, I probably never would have found these outliers and life would be poorer for it. There is nothing wrong with being the oddball and I salute the authors for taking that risk. But why is it odd?
There are several reasons why Beyond Luna is a little bit odd. The first is the structure. While the story does have a traditional beginning and end (more on that later), the preamble sets the tone for what is to come. And it quite clearly states that the story is a hanger for the science and for the world building. Now, traditionally, it is the other way round. The science is used to complement the plot and to help it move along. Not Beyond Luna! No, here the story is used to showcase the science. If you are a science nerd and have always thought Star Trek was lame on the science, this could be right up your street. It is incredibly hard Sci-fi but the science isn't inaccessible. Actually, the Author has done an amazing job to keep some complex science understandable and relatable. What I also liked is that a lot of it is science and technology that could be accessible now. Not in the future but this afternoon. It made it seem like this is something we could and should be doing. It won't get you to another galaxy but it could help reduce the burden on the planet. The Author states in the preamble that this is more of a manual than a novel but it could also be read as a manifesto. I'd vote for it.
Another reason is the plot. We can already see that the plot is firmly in the hard science zone. It centres around the H2LiftShip the LunaCola and her crew, who are making the commercial circuit from Earth to the Asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. We follow them on their travels, so this is kind of a travelog in space. Due to this, it has an almost... Cozy feel to it. Which is a bit weird since it is also very much hard science. But it's there; a hard, cozy travelogue in space. I can almost imagine Michael Palin narrating it. The plot is solid but, as with the structure, it's there mainly to showcase the science. However, what we do get is some spectacular worldbuilding. So much so that there is a multi-page addendum at the back to supplement the worldbuilding. This is worldbuilding extreme style! The characters do suffer from the same problems as the plot; while there is some interesting points e.g. simian and canine deckhands, they do feel a bit stereotypical. Like this is a showcase so each character is an amalgamation of all similar characters to show off the most relevant points. There can be a little bit of flatness to them and the dialogue is not amazing (it perhaps is obvious here that the Author is a Scientist :)). But it all adds to the worldbuilding.
So is Beyond Luna Odd: Yes but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Did I enjoy reading it: Yeeeeesss, but there are things that maybe could be done a bit differently. For one, the plot ends, to me, in a really odd place. I know this is the first of a series but it still was a bit abrupt for my tastes. Also, there are some pacing issues, especially when dealing with Ponos' story. But, the cozy travelogue with the hard science was intriguing and I did think that it is fairly unique to me. I can't think of anything to compare this too! Some people are going to struggle with the focus being away from the plot/characters ("Is it character or plot driven?" "Well, neither actually!"). If you want a standard space opera, this is not for you, although it won't harm to try it. I think this will really appeal to the Hard Science Sci-fi geeks and to those that like things just a little bit different.
Beyond Luna belongs to that class of books that are one of the reasons why I love the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition. Here is another book that doesn't quite fit into any classification and finds itself out on a limb. It's not another space opera. It's not another military dystopia. It's just that little bit weird and without SPSFC, I probably never would have found these outliers and life would be poorer for it. There is nothing wrong with being the oddball and I salute the authors for taking that risk. But why is it odd?
There are several reasons why Beyond Luna is a little bit odd. The first is the structure. While the story does have a traditional beginning and end (more on that later), the preamble sets the tone for what is to come. And it quite clearly states that the story is a hanger for the science and for the world building. Now, traditionally, it is the other way round. The science is used to complement the plot and to help it move along. Not Beyond Luna! No, here the story is used to showcase the science. If you are a science nerd and have always thought Star Trek was lame on the science, this could be right up your street. It is incredibly hard Sci-fi but the science isn't inaccessible. Actually, the Author has done an amazing job to keep some complex science understandable and relatable. What I also liked is that a lot of it is science and technology that could be accessible now. Not in the future but this afternoon. It made it seem like this is something we could and should be doing. It won't get you to another galaxy but it could help reduce the burden on the planet. The Author states in the preamble that this is more of a manual than a novel but it could also be read as a manifesto. I'd vote for it.
Another reason is the plot. We can already see that the plot is firmly in the hard science zone. It centres around the H2LiftShip the LunaCola and her crew, who are making the commercial circuit from Earth to the Asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. We follow them on their travels, so this is kind of a travelog in space. Due to this, it has an almost... Cozy feel to it. Which is a bit weird since it is also very much hard science. But it's there; a hard, cozy travelogue in space. I can almost imagine Michael Palin narrating it. The plot is solid but, as with the structure, it's there mainly to showcase the science. However, what we do get is some spectacular worldbuilding. So much so that there is a multi-page addendum at the back to supplement the worldbuilding. This is worldbuilding extreme style! The characters do suffer from the same problems as the plot; while there is some interesting points e.g. simian and canine deckhands, they do feel a bit stereotypical. Like this is a showcase so each character is an amalgamation of all similar characters to show off the most relevant points. There can be a little bit of flatness to them and the dialogue is not amazing (it perhaps is obvious here that the Author is a Scientist :)). But it all adds to the worldbuilding.
So is Beyond Luna Odd: Yes but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Did I enjoy reading it: Yeeeeesss, but there are things that maybe could be done a bit differently. For one, the plot ends, to me, in a really odd place. I know this is the first of a series but it still was a bit abrupt for my tastes. Also, there are some pacing issues, especially when dealing with Ponos' story. But, the cozy travelogue with the hard science was intriguing and I did think that it is fairly unique to me. I can't think of anything to compare this too! Some people are going to struggle with the focus being away from the plot/characters ("Is it character or plot driven?" "Well, neither actually!"). If you want a standard space opera, this is not for you, although it won't harm to try it. I think this will really appeal to the Hard Science Sci-fi geeks and to those that like things just a little bit different.
December 17, 2024
3.5/5 stars
There’s a lot to unpack here. Not sure if I can get through all of it, or articulate my thoughts well-ly
We follow an Intersolar cargo ship that is manned by uplifted animals as well as a human captain. The ship "LunaCola" ventures around the solar system, picking up and selling cargo while getting in low-key adventures along the way.
Basically, I'd say it's a decent read with some hiccups along the way.
The thing I really can’t get my head around though, is that a lot of things aren’t really explained as we go along. And that leaves me, the unknowing reader, to either be lost or to ask “why don’t they do this? And why don’t they do that?” and so on. Throughout the entire book I’m constantly asking questions on how and why, only for many of those questions to be answered at the very end – in the appendices. And this has left me scratching my head, wondering why the author decided to do things this way. The only theory I can come with is that they didn’t want to info-dump that much, so instead of explaining many of these things in the body of the story he either ignored it, or just dropped an unsatisfactory (to me anyway) sentence here and there that seemed to raise more questions rather than answer. I just thought that was a weird choice that could’ve been handled better in the story itself.
Another confusing factor is reading other people's reviews, many of them complained of the “handbook” style of writing. Saying it was too technical. And I’m here, again scratching my head. Because outside a few things here and there, there is very little technical writing in the book itself. There is a fair bit of explaining how the ships function themselves. But it wasn’t overly explained or in such depth one needed an engineering degree. I got the impression it’s pretty standard stock for a scifi (and I mean, actual scifi, not space fantasy which folk insist is the same thing)
The book could use a really good edit. I’m dyslexic so I don’t know how the spelling side of things are. But there are a lot of minor errors (as of posting this) where dialogue tags, repeated words and accidentally using “they” instead of “the”s (And whatnot) along the way. Sometimes I’d go through a section of the book and not see anything wrong, then in other chapters they were really noticeable. The book could use a couple more read-throughs to clean it up a bit.
If I’m being honest I have a lot more complaints. Picky, overly logical complaints and questions, many of which I put down to my own brain not being able to enjoy something for what it is. But I don’t want to bog anyone down in these details and possibly ruin the book.
So on a positive, I did find just cruising out to the asteroids, with no large stakes, quite enjoyable (minus one or two things) … and I thought using uplifted animals was interesting (as an Aussie I friggin’ hate the name “Australian Shepard" though, grrr). I really enjoyed our time with Jack (but I did wonder why he seemed to be the only dog who talked the way he did. It was never clarified why. He was cute, and adorable. But I wish I knew the reason behind his way of talking. Was he really young? A bit language challenged? From a special community with their own unique way of talking? I don’t know, cause it was never explained ... and a lot of the book is like that ... He was definitely the most interesting and real character for me. There is just, something so - Dog - about him. I could just read his adventures and leave the rest if I’m being honest.
There’s a lot to unpack here. Not sure if I can get through all of it, or articulate my thoughts well-ly
We follow an Intersolar cargo ship that is manned by uplifted animals as well as a human captain. The ship "LunaCola" ventures around the solar system, picking up and selling cargo while getting in low-key adventures along the way.
Basically, I'd say it's a decent read with some hiccups along the way.
The thing I really can’t get my head around though, is that a lot of things aren’t really explained as we go along. And that leaves me, the unknowing reader, to either be lost or to ask “why don’t they do this? And why don’t they do that?” and so on. Throughout the entire book I’m constantly asking questions on how and why, only for many of those questions to be answered at the very end – in the appendices. And this has left me scratching my head, wondering why the author decided to do things this way. The only theory I can come with is that they didn’t want to info-dump that much, so instead of explaining many of these things in the body of the story he either ignored it, or just dropped an unsatisfactory (to me anyway) sentence here and there that seemed to raise more questions rather than answer. I just thought that was a weird choice that could’ve been handled better in the story itself.
Another confusing factor is reading other people's reviews, many of them complained of the “handbook” style of writing. Saying it was too technical. And I’m here, again scratching my head. Because outside a few things here and there, there is very little technical writing in the book itself. There is a fair bit of explaining how the ships function themselves. But it wasn’t overly explained or in such depth one needed an engineering degree. I got the impression it’s pretty standard stock for a scifi (and I mean, actual scifi, not space fantasy which folk insist is the same thing)
The book could use a really good edit. I’m dyslexic so I don’t know how the spelling side of things are. But there are a lot of minor errors (as of posting this) where dialogue tags, repeated words and accidentally using “they” instead of “the”s (And whatnot) along the way. Sometimes I’d go through a section of the book and not see anything wrong, then in other chapters they were really noticeable. The book could use a couple more read-throughs to clean it up a bit.
If I’m being honest I have a lot more complaints. Picky, overly logical complaints and questions, many of which I put down to my own brain not being able to enjoy something for what it is. But I don’t want to bog anyone down in these details and possibly ruin the book.
So on a positive, I did find just cruising out to the asteroids, with no large stakes, quite enjoyable (minus one or two things) … and I thought using uplifted animals was interesting (as an Aussie I friggin’ hate the name “Australian Shepard" though, grrr). I really enjoyed our time with Jack (but I did wonder why he seemed to be the only dog who talked the way he did. It was never clarified why. He was cute, and adorable. But I wish I knew the reason behind his way of talking. Was he really young? A bit language challenged? From a special community with their own unique way of talking? I don’t know, cause it was never explained ... and a lot of the book is like that ... He was definitely the most interesting and real character for me. There is just, something so - Dog - about him. I could just read his adventures and leave the rest if I’m being honest.
December 12, 2022
Bob Freeman's Beyond Luna is a 323-page science fiction novel about space travel and exploration. It's also the first book in the H2Liftships trilogy, followed by "A Backstory" and the final book in the series, "Bosons Wave."
Written in the narrative perspective, Beyond Luna begins with an overview of mankind's history with space exploration, a history that animals are largely a great part of. It further delves into the main story, of which the ship Luna Cola and her crew take centre stage.
The book tells of the adventures of this magnificent space ship and her all-encompassing crew, captained by Grace and their encounters with natural factors such as zeroG (zero gravity) as well as not so natural factors like Captain Mykolas.
Would the Luna Cola be able to surmount these obstacles, and what role did other ships play in the story?
The most captivating thing about this book was the author's thoughtfulness in incorporating animal characters in the story. This was both distinctive and considerate, as he gave thorough credit to the role animals have played in man's exploits in space. Even more enthralling was the character development of the animal characters, especially Jack and Tang, as well as the massive role both played as crew members in Luna Cola, and of course, the book in general. Indeed, they were both the story's star characters, as well as mine.
The only negative aspect about Beyond Luna, is that it's not an all comers kind of book. Bob's creativity in both the storyline and character development is truly mind boggling, however, it's a book that can only be enjoyed by lovers and devotees of science fiction and books that are unconventional. Sci-fi literature is an exclusive niche, and Bob Freeman in more ways than one, redefined exclusive in this book.
In my opinion, Bob Freeman ticks all the boxes in this book. Great plot, beautiful and exceptional character development, an amazing work of editing, and a coherent storyline, which made the flow of the story from beginning to end all the more enjoyable. As such, Beyond Luna is certainly a five star book.
Furthermore, Beyond Luna is one of a kind. Encompassing action, adventure, puzzling, hilarious, mental stimulating, thrill, and suspense, all in one book. It is a book I'd love to recommend to everyone, yet sadly, I cannot. But if you do love the challenge of pushing your mind to embracing the beyond conventional, then Beyond Luna is a definite must-read. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
Written in the narrative perspective, Beyond Luna begins with an overview of mankind's history with space exploration, a history that animals are largely a great part of. It further delves into the main story, of which the ship Luna Cola and her crew take centre stage.
The book tells of the adventures of this magnificent space ship and her all-encompassing crew, captained by Grace and their encounters with natural factors such as zeroG (zero gravity) as well as not so natural factors like Captain Mykolas.
Would the Luna Cola be able to surmount these obstacles, and what role did other ships play in the story?
The most captivating thing about this book was the author's thoughtfulness in incorporating animal characters in the story. This was both distinctive and considerate, as he gave thorough credit to the role animals have played in man's exploits in space. Even more enthralling was the character development of the animal characters, especially Jack and Tang, as well as the massive role both played as crew members in Luna Cola, and of course, the book in general. Indeed, they were both the story's star characters, as well as mine.
The only negative aspect about Beyond Luna, is that it's not an all comers kind of book. Bob's creativity in both the storyline and character development is truly mind boggling, however, it's a book that can only be enjoyed by lovers and devotees of science fiction and books that are unconventional. Sci-fi literature is an exclusive niche, and Bob Freeman in more ways than one, redefined exclusive in this book.
In my opinion, Bob Freeman ticks all the boxes in this book. Great plot, beautiful and exceptional character development, an amazing work of editing, and a coherent storyline, which made the flow of the story from beginning to end all the more enjoyable. As such, Beyond Luna is certainly a five star book.
Furthermore, Beyond Luna is one of a kind. Encompassing action, adventure, puzzling, hilarious, mental stimulating, thrill, and suspense, all in one book. It is a book I'd love to recommend to everyone, yet sadly, I cannot. But if you do love the challenge of pushing your mind to embracing the beyond conventional, then Beyond Luna is a definite must-read. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
January 2, 2023
Have you ever imagined what it'd feel like, to get an exclusive VIP front seat, on a life defining sojourn across the galaxies?
Do you dream of being able to almost reach out and touch the stars?
Such a wonderful experience is possible, and believe it, at almost no cost, because Bob Freeman has made that world possible, all at his own expense.
Bob Freeman's Beyond Luna, the first book in his spellbinding H2Liftships series, is the story of the adventure of a little known spaceship, Luna Cola on her and her crew's self defining journey across space and time. It revolves around the crew of the ship, from their Captain, the resilient and determined Graciela Lucerne, the Canine Deck Hand, the effusive Jack San Freedog Jr. (who believe it or not, is an Australian Shepherd) and the Biped Deck Hand, Tangsapor Kewellan Candrey (an orangutan) alongside other sentients. Together, these intelligent beings would have an adventure that encompasses every bit of drama, action, comedy, even a touch of romance.
The most interesting aspect to this book, was the author's attention to detail. This was evident in the detailed depiction of the different crews aboard a spaceship and the pinpoint precision with which they manned their posts and performed their duties can be likened to the choreography of ballerinas.
Another interesting feature of Beyond Luna, was the narrative style with which the book began, with a background story of man's history with space travel and exploration and the progress made so far, before delving into the actual story, this for me made it a lot easier to grasp the ideas portrayed within the book and the series at large. As not just a one-off story, but one that immerses itself in the chronology of the science of space exploration.
Beyond Luna is an impeccably written and edited book, as there were no errors whatsoever. This further increased my overall enjoyment of the book.
It goes without saying that Sci-fi is a literary niche, reserved for those willing to dare to test their imaginations. And Bob in no small way, tested our imaginations, while also entertaining our minds.
This is a book and series every person should read, because in the words of Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." There is no more appropriate description of the H2Liftships series, than these words.
Do you dream of being able to almost reach out and touch the stars?
Such a wonderful experience is possible, and believe it, at almost no cost, because Bob Freeman has made that world possible, all at his own expense.
Bob Freeman's Beyond Luna, the first book in his spellbinding H2Liftships series, is the story of the adventure of a little known spaceship, Luna Cola on her and her crew's self defining journey across space and time. It revolves around the crew of the ship, from their Captain, the resilient and determined Graciela Lucerne, the Canine Deck Hand, the effusive Jack San Freedog Jr. (who believe it or not, is an Australian Shepherd) and the Biped Deck Hand, Tangsapor Kewellan Candrey (an orangutan) alongside other sentients. Together, these intelligent beings would have an adventure that encompasses every bit of drama, action, comedy, even a touch of romance.
The most interesting aspect to this book, was the author's attention to detail. This was evident in the detailed depiction of the different crews aboard a spaceship and the pinpoint precision with which they manned their posts and performed their duties can be likened to the choreography of ballerinas.
Another interesting feature of Beyond Luna, was the narrative style with which the book began, with a background story of man's history with space travel and exploration and the progress made so far, before delving into the actual story, this for me made it a lot easier to grasp the ideas portrayed within the book and the series at large. As not just a one-off story, but one that immerses itself in the chronology of the science of space exploration.
Beyond Luna is an impeccably written and edited book, as there were no errors whatsoever. This further increased my overall enjoyment of the book.
It goes without saying that Sci-fi is a literary niche, reserved for those willing to dare to test their imaginations. And Bob in no small way, tested our imaginations, while also entertaining our minds.
This is a book and series every person should read, because in the words of Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." There is no more appropriate description of the H2Liftships series, than these words.
January 23, 2024
Although it’s January and the beginning of the year, I think it’s fairly safe to say that I've found the most unique and weirdest book series out there.
Everyone has read some sci-fi, everyone has seen at least one space opera book or TV show. You kind of think you know what to expect, right? If you're told that this is a sci-fi-themed book, you *think* you kind of know what the writing's going to be like, right? Haha, no, wrong!
You think you know how books are usually written, right? Like, how the plot and story are going to unfold, right? Yes, you have read a zillion books and you think you've seen it all, and rightly so, right? Haha, no, wrong again!
Enter Bob. Bob Freeman. This weirdo has written a book that's a book but isn’t a book, that's a book series but isn’t a book series, he has written *something* that's… I’m not sure if there's a genre for it. How do you label a book that’s written as an… instruction manual?
Me? Read it. Was surprised. Took a break. Read book 2. Took a break. Read book 3. Took a break. Read book 4. Now? I’m still surprised. I’m feeling seriously entertained now when I’m thinking about how to describe it. I feel like this dude wrote a book that made *himself* cackle and giggle and laugh out loud. It feels like he wrote a book that *he* wished he could read. I feel like he wrote this book series because this was exactly what he felt the world was missing. After all, it was something he himself wanted to read but couldn’t find. Am I right? I've no clue. But he's done it, the books are there, he's written them and they're strangely unique and unique fun.
The language is quirky, it's *spicy*, but the spice isn’t your traditional one – it’s sciency/made up sciency spicy, and it most definitely blurs all the lines of what sci-fi should be. Does it make sense? I’m not sure. But it’s weird and I’m here for it.
If you ever start feeling like you've read it all, or if you meet someone who says they've read it all – nope, they haven’t, unless they've read at least one of those books. Seriously. If you read those, then you may proclaim to be certified in having read it all. Maybe. Maybe not. See for yourself.
Everyone has read some sci-fi, everyone has seen at least one space opera book or TV show. You kind of think you know what to expect, right? If you're told that this is a sci-fi-themed book, you *think* you kind of know what the writing's going to be like, right? Haha, no, wrong!
You think you know how books are usually written, right? Like, how the plot and story are going to unfold, right? Yes, you have read a zillion books and you think you've seen it all, and rightly so, right? Haha, no, wrong again!
Enter Bob. Bob Freeman. This weirdo has written a book that's a book but isn’t a book, that's a book series but isn’t a book series, he has written *something* that's… I’m not sure if there's a genre for it. How do you label a book that’s written as an… instruction manual?
Me? Read it. Was surprised. Took a break. Read book 2. Took a break. Read book 3. Took a break. Read book 4. Now? I’m still surprised. I’m feeling seriously entertained now when I’m thinking about how to describe it. I feel like this dude wrote a book that made *himself* cackle and giggle and laugh out loud. It feels like he wrote a book that *he* wished he could read. I feel like he wrote this book series because this was exactly what he felt the world was missing. After all, it was something he himself wanted to read but couldn’t find. Am I right? I've no clue. But he's done it, the books are there, he's written them and they're strangely unique and unique fun.
The language is quirky, it's *spicy*, but the spice isn’t your traditional one – it’s sciency/made up sciency spicy, and it most definitely blurs all the lines of what sci-fi should be. Does it make sense? I’m not sure. But it’s weird and I’m here for it.
If you ever start feeling like you've read it all, or if you meet someone who says they've read it all – nope, they haven’t, unless they've read at least one of those books. Seriously. If you read those, then you may proclaim to be certified in having read it all. Maybe. Maybe not. See for yourself.
July 1, 2023
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3NWTLwj.
The H2LiftShip LunaCola is manned by a primate, a dog, an octopus, and the human captain. Together they travel from Earth, among the asteroids, and to planets and their moons. Be it a gambling orangutan who ends up in certain situations, a Australian Shepherd who wants to help the trees grow, an octopus who is living his best life while the inferior land dwellers fail, or a human with parental issues there is a little bit of everything. But, a threat to the LunaCola is on the horizon and it may be more personal than attacking space pirates.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. While interesting this story jumped around a lot without any clear direction for the longest time. Everything eventually tied together and made sense, but nothing about the books initial blurb had me expecting what I received. Certain points in this book are said and then repeated again. I'm not sure if the author thought we, as the reader, skipped entire sections of story and didn't get it so needed it bluntly or what.
We're told during the introduction of each character that one has a goal to gamble in Vegas, one has a desire to pee on the Redwoods to help in their growth and so on. Once those are finished the same information just provided during those segments is repeated.
Other than that the book was good. We have space travel, pirates, animals that are of more use than some of the humans in this book (and outside of it), and get to see a unique type of ship that isn't found in other sci-fi books I have read. Jack (the dog) easily ranked as my favorite of the characters, although he wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed.
The H2LiftShip LunaCola is manned by a primate, a dog, an octopus, and the human captain. Together they travel from Earth, among the asteroids, and to planets and their moons. Be it a gambling orangutan who ends up in certain situations, a Australian Shepherd who wants to help the trees grow, an octopus who is living his best life while the inferior land dwellers fail, or a human with parental issues there is a little bit of everything. But, a threat to the LunaCola is on the horizon and it may be more personal than attacking space pirates.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. While interesting this story jumped around a lot without any clear direction for the longest time. Everything eventually tied together and made sense, but nothing about the books initial blurb had me expecting what I received. Certain points in this book are said and then repeated again. I'm not sure if the author thought we, as the reader, skipped entire sections of story and didn't get it so needed it bluntly or what.
We're told during the introduction of each character that one has a goal to gamble in Vegas, one has a desire to pee on the Redwoods to help in their growth and so on. Once those are finished the same information just provided during those segments is repeated.
Other than that the book was good. We have space travel, pirates, animals that are of more use than some of the humans in this book (and outside of it), and get to see a unique type of ship that isn't found in other sci-fi books I have read. Jack (the dog) easily ranked as my favorite of the characters, although he wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed.
January 28, 2024
To start this off with my favorite trait about this sci-fi series is the two main characters which are 1- a talking Australian shepherd and 2-a talking simian with a gambling problem, its a trip (pun intended cause, you know the book is about a road trip sailing through the solar system…anyways!)
The writing showcased an amazing level of detail and imagination, thus providing a seamless and lucid narrative that was easy to digest, plus a great sense of humor. Reading this felt like watching those 2000s blurry TV shows that make you laugh due to the corniest jokes ever, and I mean that in the best way possible! The pace of the story was generally well maintained, and I felt like through the amount of detail the author has showcased, you can tell that they are very passionate and accurate about this which made me feel like I was in the book itself.
However, it’s worth mentioning that, at certain points, there was a subtle slowing down or stretching of the description. This doesn’t specifically detract from the overall experience but I could feel myself drifting off at some certain points.
Despite that, the reading experience is overall enjoyable and very humorous, this genre and theme are something I haven’t gotten used to and was very unique, which is what I was needing right now as a break from my usual go-to.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the touch of science subtly woven into details about the ship, the journey, and whenever they would land in a new atmosphere, plus the fact that we get to see the earth from a creative POV, the science fiction genre always manages to change up the science and laws of the earth which is always so cool to see from different author perspectives.
The writing showcased an amazing level of detail and imagination, thus providing a seamless and lucid narrative that was easy to digest, plus a great sense of humor. Reading this felt like watching those 2000s blurry TV shows that make you laugh due to the corniest jokes ever, and I mean that in the best way possible! The pace of the story was generally well maintained, and I felt like through the amount of detail the author has showcased, you can tell that they are very passionate and accurate about this which made me feel like I was in the book itself.
However, it’s worth mentioning that, at certain points, there was a subtle slowing down or stretching of the description. This doesn’t specifically detract from the overall experience but I could feel myself drifting off at some certain points.
Despite that, the reading experience is overall enjoyable and very humorous, this genre and theme are something I haven’t gotten used to and was very unique, which is what I was needing right now as a break from my usual go-to.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the touch of science subtly woven into details about the ship, the journey, and whenever they would land in a new atmosphere, plus the fact that we get to see the earth from a creative POV, the science fiction genre always manages to change up the science and laws of the earth which is always so cool to see from different author perspectives.
March 8, 2024
This is a rather complex and heavy science fiction book series than the previous ones I've read, however it's quite enjoyable.
The book one in the series, BeyondLuna, is the tech manual mainly designed for world building. Indeed, world-building is mind-blowing. One-hundred percent imaginative and creative. It's a tech manual of a possible future with canines and primates. So we have humans, dogs, octopuses and primates. The other titles are called A Back Story, Bosonswave and Bosonswave Square.
The author has managed to create a brilliant story through the peculiar settings and characters, and a pinch of humour every here and there. The efforts put into this artistic creation are clearly visible and they are literally remarkable. Everything is discussed, including the population, tourism, agriculture, power, water, other wants and needs. The books contain real science, pseudo-science and stuff pulled out of thin air, pirates and human tendencies of stealing, drinking and lying.
In a world where we see that most of the books include a bit of romance, this one is different and includes none of it. Reading this book was a bit difficult and different but the humor and the supremely interesting storyline kept me engaged, and I was able to finish it off. It reminds me of my student life when we used to learn the genus/species of organisms, because of the terms used. The entire series is something unique and will certainly attract true science-fiction lovers. With absolutely perfect descriptions of an alternative universe, this book series is a good pick in its genre.
The book one in the series, BeyondLuna, is the tech manual mainly designed for world building. Indeed, world-building is mind-blowing. One-hundred percent imaginative and creative. It's a tech manual of a possible future with canines and primates. So we have humans, dogs, octopuses and primates. The other titles are called A Back Story, Bosonswave and Bosonswave Square.
The author has managed to create a brilliant story through the peculiar settings and characters, and a pinch of humour every here and there. The efforts put into this artistic creation are clearly visible and they are literally remarkable. Everything is discussed, including the population, tourism, agriculture, power, water, other wants and needs. The books contain real science, pseudo-science and stuff pulled out of thin air, pirates and human tendencies of stealing, drinking and lying.
In a world where we see that most of the books include a bit of romance, this one is different and includes none of it. Reading this book was a bit difficult and different but the humor and the supremely interesting storyline kept me engaged, and I was able to finish it off. It reminds me of my student life when we used to learn the genus/species of organisms, because of the terms used. The entire series is something unique and will certainly attract true science-fiction lovers. With absolutely perfect descriptions of an alternative universe, this book series is a good pick in its genre.
February 25, 2024
H2liftships is the embodiment of a big book. The story sets off with Beyond Luna, then we have The Backstory where we get to learn more about the characters, followed by Boson Wave I and finally ending with Boson Wave II.
This series is unlike any other science fiction books that I have encountered so far. It's peculiar in the way it mixes science, pseudoscience, and a lot of make-believe. Set in the heliosphere, it is far fetched but at the same time feels like there is a probability of situations as described in the book may surely happen in the future! There are hardcore science-y elements and a lot of fiction in the other parts. Not to mention there's an underlying sarcastic tone in the writing that I was enjoying throughout!
LunaCola is the spacecraft and traveling between Earth and other planets is no longer difficult. In-depth details are shared about the spacecraft and its mechanisms along with a lot of banter between Tang and Jack and I couldn't help but chuckle at. Space is now a place where primates, canines and a lot of other species inhabit. Canines in this future era can talk and even play poker!
If you are someone who loves space operas or are in general sci-fi readers, I would definitely recommend the H2LIFTSHIPS series. It's a huge series but the writing is really engaging and the banter would easily keep one hooked!
This series is unlike any other science fiction books that I have encountered so far. It's peculiar in the way it mixes science, pseudoscience, and a lot of make-believe. Set in the heliosphere, it is far fetched but at the same time feels like there is a probability of situations as described in the book may surely happen in the future! There are hardcore science-y elements and a lot of fiction in the other parts. Not to mention there's an underlying sarcastic tone in the writing that I was enjoying throughout!
LunaCola is the spacecraft and traveling between Earth and other planets is no longer difficult. In-depth details are shared about the spacecraft and its mechanisms along with a lot of banter between Tang and Jack and I couldn't help but chuckle at. Space is now a place where primates, canines and a lot of other species inhabit. Canines in this future era can talk and even play poker!
If you are someone who loves space operas or are in general sci-fi readers, I would definitely recommend the H2LIFTSHIPS series. It's a huge series but the writing is really engaging and the banter would easily keep one hooked!
August 3, 2022
Enjoyed this story! Very Entertaining and interesting!
What a grand story in H2LiftShips- Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman. This is the first book that I've read from this author, and it is the first book in the H2LiftShips series. I just became a fan of this author, and his story. It is very fascinating, and though it is science fiction, it has a lot of regular science in the mixed, making the story so real. This author brings the story to life. The characters had a lot of depth and were very realistic. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. I found that it read in two ways, one being a story, but the other being a manual for traveling into outer space and beyond. Some things were very technical, and I didn't mind. I was able to follow along and believed what was written. Freeman writes very well, and if and when we travel into outer space beyond space shuttles, this could be the way. (And, I am a nerd at heart, so I enjoyed reading it). Tantalizing and intriguing! H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
What a grand story in H2LiftShips- Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman. This is the first book that I've read from this author, and it is the first book in the H2LiftShips series. I just became a fan of this author, and his story. It is very fascinating, and though it is science fiction, it has a lot of regular science in the mixed, making the story so real. This author brings the story to life. The characters had a lot of depth and were very realistic. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. The story brings the reader on a superb journey. I found that it read in two ways, one being a story, but the other being a manual for traveling into outer space and beyond. Some things were very technical, and I didn't mind. I was able to follow along and believed what was written. Freeman writes very well, and if and when we travel into outer space beyond space shuttles, this could be the way. (And, I am a nerd at heart, so I enjoyed reading it). Tantalizing and intriguing! H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
May 30, 2023
H2LiftShips is a weird but delightful book. It's different from everything else on the market. It falls short in many traditional ways we judge books: the plot is thin, and the characters don't develop more. But still, I couldn't put this one down. It's a hard sci-fi instruction booklet on how to operate a trading vessel. The crew includes a genetically modified dog, a similarly souped-up chimp, and a genius octopus at navigator. The setting the author describes (a near-future solar system with colonies) is feasible, and the adventures the crew of the LunaCola find along the way are pretty fun. In the middle, there's an abrupt perspective switch to an almost homeless asteroid worker named Ponos, who works nearly every gig job. In each little story, the reader learns more about the practical side of space travel. The author has a quirky writing style. I've rarely encountered the word "ungulates" in a sci-fi text, and he's done it more than once. But what can I say? It works.
June 27, 2022
Bob Freeman, the author, states up front that this book has a particular style that’s not for everyone. In a world exactly like ours but different, dogs, octopus and Simians (definitely not monkeys) are all part of the crews on cargo hauling space ships. It’s a quirky book, has lots of dry humour, and is very instructional about space travel and living on planets in the depth of space, and quite a few visits to Casinos.. There is a story, but also a lot of description. If you read the second book H2liftships A Backstory then you better understand this book. I’m off to read the third book out soon. Thank you to Bookbuzz.net and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, ‘my words and your words’ (read the book and you may understand.)
October 7, 2023
Absolutely read and trust the preamble for this book. Freeman tells us that this book will not be for everyone as it is written like a tech manual rather than a novel, and he is 100% correct. If that doesn't sound interesting then this is not the book for you. I was intrigued as I have not come across this style before, but unfortunately could not get past the pages and pages of descriptions of which carabiner goes where to secure the sails for which manoeuvre. There is humour scattered throughout, but sadly that didn't land for me either as it all felt like jokes I've heard before. There are some novel and interesting ideas in these pages, but be sure you're willing to put in the work to find them
I received a free review copy of this book
I received a free review copy of this book
August 1, 2025
Buckle up for a one-of-a-kind sci-fi romp that’s equal parts space opera, road trip, and interplanetary hustle.
This series launches readers into a solar system that feels familiar—but just skewed enough to be thrillingly unpredictable. From solar sail cargo ships cruising the heliosphere to asteroid belt pit stops and Martian misadventures, [Insert Title] is a joyride through a warped mirror of our world.
The crew of the LunaCola—a ragtag band of misfits, dreamers, and occasional gamblers—pulls you into a series of odd jobs and odder situations that keep the pace fast and the humor sharp. Whether they’re scrounging supplies, crossing paths with pirates, or getting into trouble in Sol’s seediest casinos, every chapter brims with chaotic charm and surprising heart.
This series launches readers into a solar system that feels familiar—but just skewed enough to be thrillingly unpredictable. From solar sail cargo ships cruising the heliosphere to asteroid belt pit stops and Martian misadventures, [Insert Title] is a joyride through a warped mirror of our world.
The crew of the LunaCola—a ragtag band of misfits, dreamers, and occasional gamblers—pulls you into a series of odd jobs and odder situations that keep the pace fast and the humor sharp. Whether they’re scrounging supplies, crossing paths with pirates, or getting into trouble in Sol’s seediest casinos, every chapter brims with chaotic charm and surprising heart.
April 7, 2021
I had high hopes for this book as I love science fiction books. In the first chapter it tells you it is not a typical space opera and is written like a how to manual. I found it to be very boring. I just could not get into the story as it was like all background information and I didn't have a character to follow so I didn't read but a couple of chapters before I had to quit reading as there was nothing of interest for me as it did not set my imagination soaring like most books do. The sentence structure was good and I did not see any typos, but as far as story goes, I would not recommend this book.
March 5, 2023
I received the H2LiftShips trilogy from Voracious Readers Only for an honest review, and this is my review for the first book in the series. There are many reviews here which provide a lot of detail about the book, so I won't bother repeating any of that. The book does emphasize the science aspect of SciFi, so will especially appeal to readers who like to know more about how things work instead of just accepting buzzwords. The full enjoyment of the book will be experienced when read as part of the entire trilogy. Some people prefer to read the second book first, as it is set earlier in time, but I enjoyed reading them in the order the author published them.
February 2, 2024
I had the pleasure of reading this series and am so happy they ended up on my radar. As you all know, I don’t read a lot of sci-fi mostly because I am very picky when it comes to that genre. After reading and enjoying this series I would highly recommend them to anyone who is or wants to be a fan of sci-fi. These books are truly unique and have so many different aspects to them. The author did a great job with their use of descriptions throughout the stories. While it can be description heavy at times I honestly preferred that because it kept me from being lost or confused in the future. Overall, these books were a lot of fun to read and are easy to pick up and get into.
June 14, 2025
Entertaining and educational
A funny farce including talking dogs and simians and wildly gesticulating and color flashing octopi that crew spaceships around the solar system to transfer and trade interplanetary goods. Add in gambling and alcohol and prepare for a rollicking good time with a little sideways romance to finish it off. Entertaining and thought provoking descriptions of the engineering required to keep the whole thing running throughout. Learned some new words with this one!
A funny farce including talking dogs and simians and wildly gesticulating and color flashing octopi that crew spaceships around the solar system to transfer and trade interplanetary goods. Add in gambling and alcohol and prepare for a rollicking good time with a little sideways romance to finish it off. Entertaining and thought provoking descriptions of the engineering required to keep the whole thing running throughout. Learned some new words with this one!
March 8, 2024
The first of four books I received from the author. The story takes place in the future, we follow an almost ragtag crew that belongs to the LunaCola ship. You have a loyal dog that has trouble counting anything past four, a primate with a gambling problem along with a serious octopus headed by their human captain as they forage for supplies to deliver from earth to the solar belt. Jam-packed with adventure H2-Liftships is definitely a series I would recommend if you are a fan of sci-fi.
February 6, 2023
Featuring a ship's crew of a dog and an orangutan (among other species), Bob Freeman's imagination takes flight in Beyond Luna. The book is wonderful for its joyful creativity alone, but fans of sci-fi will also enjoy how Freeman approaches the scientific workings of his unique world.
Launch your TBR into the stars with H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna and prepare yourself for an outrageous adventure.
Launch your TBR into the stars with H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna and prepare yourself for an outrageous adventure.
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