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EarthCent Metaverse #2
Bits of Flower
Read Double Living first!
Bits of Flower and Double Living both take place on the sentient colony ship, Flower, with overlapping timelines and characters. But Bits of Flower ends second, so it contains spoilers for Double Living.
Bits of Flower and Double Living both take place on the sentient colony ship, Flower, with overlapping timelines and characters. But Bits of Flower ends second, so it contains spoilers for Double Living.
- GenresScience Fiction
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2023
27 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Foner
60 books247 followersI wrote Date Night on Union Station while taking a break from work on a science fiction epic I've been struggling with for years. The goal was to cheer myself up and to find out if there is still an audience for a science fiction comedy that gets its laughs from dialogue and funny situations rather than from gross-outs and shocks. As many readers have pointed out, the EarthCent series could be rated PG under the old fashioned system, no bloodshed, no graphic sex, no four letter words. And after years of imagining a galaxy for my epic in which multiple human civilizations are at war with each other, it did me a world of good to write about a galaxy where most people are just trying to make a living and find some joy in life. I received so many requests to extend the Date Night universe into a series that I put aside my epic for an extended period to write a sequel, Alien Night on Union Station. The events take place five years after the conclusion of Date Night, and the plot involves a mix of business, diplomacy, gaming and family relations. As a bonus, we finally get to meet Kelly's mother. After the positive response to Alien Night, I wrote a third book for the series, High Priest of Union Station, which is currently in the editing stage and due out in mid-October. I just started a book that extends the EarthCent galaxy with a different mission and cast of characters, though they may intersect at some point.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 19, 2023
I have read all of Mr. Foner's books, and while I have enjoyed all of them in their own right, this one is among the very best. In this one the folks from the planet of hackers known as Bits, end up about the colony ship, Flower. The folks from Bits often made their living as game designers and Flower (an artificial intelligence as well as a ship), puts her new residents on a project to develop a game about life on a colony ship, but is there more the the assignment than meets the eye? Foner has always been great at character development and in this one, in addition to fleshing out the Bits characters a lot more, he really gives us insights into how Flower functions and what makes her tick. These are superb books and so much fun. This book is the second book in a spinoff series called The EarthCent Metaverse series. Combined with the several spin off series from his Union Station collection, he has released over 30 books. I know I always say this, but this is a different kind of SciFi. Rather than laser blasts and battle scenes, the books explore how very different people can learn to live and work together. The stories are inventive and compelling and just a lot of fun. You could start off with book one of this series Bits of Anarchy and follow the story pretty well, but I recommend going back to the beginning with the prequel Destiny Union station and following this adventure. The books are well written and well thought out. Check them out.
February 5, 2023
Book 2 in the series
A somewhat different view of life on Flower, the huge colony starship. This time mostly from the Bits people’s perspective. An interesting plot with a very diverse set of characters. A great story.
A somewhat different view of life on Flower, the huge colony starship. This time mostly from the Bits people’s perspective. An interesting plot with a very diverse set of characters. A great story.
February 5, 2023
Conflict, conflict, conflict! Where is it?
We know Foner likes non-violent scenarios. But conflict doesn't have to be physical. Having someone who doesn't really like guidance from an AI doesn't count. Anyway there is off stage violence. Just what do sherriffs do to eliminate claim jumpers and muggers? No jails, no penal settlements, no re-education camps, so they must be killed.
This book is the first one I remember that introduces uniformed security to Flower. Maybe working up to a similar Corps on the new ship.
But, you can't have a viable work of fiction without genuine tension,conflict and, hopefully, resolution. A meandering tale of fluffy bunnies doesn't cut it.
We know Foner likes non-violent scenarios. But conflict doesn't have to be physical. Having someone who doesn't really like guidance from an AI doesn't count. Anyway there is off stage violence. Just what do sherriffs do to eliminate claim jumpers and muggers? No jails, no penal settlements, no re-education camps, so they must be killed.
This book is the first one I remember that introduces uniformed security to Flower. Maybe working up to a similar Corps on the new ship.
But, you can't have a viable work of fiction without genuine tension,conflict and, hopefully, resolution. A meandering tale of fluffy bunnies doesn't cut it.
February 3, 2023
Good, but....
I'm not sure what didn't seem right. Which is the least helpful sentence in the English language. But the story didn't track right for me. Maybe the "Bitters" don't evoke sympathy from me or maybe Rayne is too much like me and I won't admit it. Still a good tale and I plan to continue with the series.
I'm not sure what didn't seem right. Which is the least helpful sentence in the English language. But the story didn't track right for me. Maybe the "Bitters" don't evoke sympathy from me or maybe Rayne is too much like me and I won't admit it. Still a good tale and I plan to continue with the series.
February 15, 2023
a bit of alright
I’ve been hooked since date night on union station and the author hasn’t let me down once! As usual i enjoyed the latest installment from the earthcent universe. Flower is always entertaining and the folks from bits are very likable. Looking forward to the next installment.
I’ve been hooked since date night on union station and the author hasn’t let me down once! As usual i enjoyed the latest installment from the earthcent universe. Flower is always entertaining and the folks from bits are very likable. Looking forward to the next installment.
February 20, 2023
outstanding
Another great, fast paced story moving the gamers from BITs along as they work with flower. Probably best not to start with this story first at least read the first one in the series (meta verse). This was a great story and hard to put down. I highly recommend the story and can’t wait for the next release.
Another great, fast paced story moving the gamers from BITs along as they work with flower. Probably best not to start with this story first at least read the first one in the series (meta verse). This was a great story and hard to put down. I highly recommend the story and can’t wait for the next release.
February 13, 2023
this volume E.M. is back on form, a very pleasurable read,
all the characters had a proper part to play,
the plot and sneaky sub-plots were carefully crafted,
it does open the way for another sub set of stories with these people.
well worth reading,
all the characters had a proper part to play,
the plot and sneaky sub-plots were carefully crafted,
it does open the way for another sub set of stories with these people.
well worth reading,
April 10, 2023
Nothing lasts for ever.
The characters are believable but with an organic , chaotic, way of decision making? Perhaps they are based off real people. Union station becomes flower, flower becomes miklat, Book mobile has an upgrade? It seems like a lot of growth.
The characters are believable but with an organic , chaotic, way of decision making? Perhaps they are based off real people. Union station becomes flower, flower becomes miklat, Book mobile has an upgrade? It seems like a lot of growth.
February 7, 2023
Bits
Wow, never thought that this series could branch out so much. What started as the story of a young ambasadorial staff become the story of the growth of Human Empire.
Wow, never thought that this series could branch out so much. What started as the story of a young ambasadorial staff become the story of the growth of Human Empire.
August 25, 2023
Entertaining and engaging, as always. All the books in this 'universe' are excellent.
Read
August 28, 2023Highly entertaining
As with all these books, this one was really fun to read. Especially if you pay careful attention to exactly what is said
As with all these books, this one was really fun to read. Especially if you pay careful attention to exactly what is said
November 26, 2023
Traffic and trade.
At first a bit slow moving, then pop! an all new ship a play ground for the human empire. Yes it wad all a setup. The next one should be good.
At first a bit slow moving, then pop! an all new ship a play ground for the human empire. Yes it wad all a setup. The next one should be good.
January 4, 2024
one of my favorites
EM Foner is one of my two favorite modern science fiction writers. Soon I will have read them all, and have to wait for them to come out, one at a time.
EM Foner is one of my two favorite modern science fiction writers. Soon I will have read them all, and have to wait for them to come out, one at a time.
February 21, 2023
When I started reading this series a billion years ago with the first of the Earthcent Ambassador series, I saw it as essentially the old British TV classic, "Yes, Minister". Just set in space.
I still do. How can you not appreciate such diplomatic double-speak as: "“I’ll take your lack of a direct denial as a confirmation. Are the layers of obfuscation infinite, or does somebody out there keep track ...?”
As the series has gone on and split into multiple side-series, the Frunge, Verlocks, Vergallians and Gem have become as familiar to me as the Klingons, Vulcans and Romulans. Phenomenal world building with humor all the way. Exceptional series!
I still do. How can you not appreciate such diplomatic double-speak as: "“I’ll take your lack of a direct denial as a confirmation. Are the layers of obfuscation infinite, or does somebody out there keep track ...?”
As the series has gone on and split into multiple side-series, the Frunge, Verlocks, Vergallians and Gem have become as familiar to me as the Klingons, Vulcans and Romulans. Phenomenal world building with humor all the way. Exceptional series!
March 21, 2023
This entire series never fails to delight me.
(What more needs to be said? If you like your SF without endless wars and are interested in reading about other ways different species might coexist, read these.)
(What more needs to be said? If you like your SF without endless wars and are interested in reading about other ways different species might coexist, read these.)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews