First contact with a twist
594082
Excellently researched to make the science believable. The storyline was well thought out, but it seemed like it was a little slow in developing at times. Otherwise, I would have given it a fifth star.
3590914
The author shares his vision of both humankind space travel between worlds and first contact with other than earth humans in the not to distant future. His technology is a step between today and faster than light travel as presented by other writers. Very good!
2159208
Thank you sir, can I have another? I liked this story a lot. Things take time. Maybe they bend the laws of physics but they didn't just throw them away. Military and diplomacy in first contact situation.  How do you go ridiculed outcasts to first crew of a starship? Time and constant effort. Fun to read and I will look for his next book.
4015649
I ended up really enjoying it it wasn't what I was expecting I thought it was like going to be a first contact book involving Earth and another planet and it is but it's not earth as we know it I enjoyed getting to know the Dideto people along with Meg and her team.  the story was very well written and I plan to read more books by this author
809214
Author John Mickus presents his debut novel bristling with all the insights of his first career as a Software Engineer with technical experience from working in Defense, Internet Security, Medical and Multimedia industries. His blend of passion between art and science play out with startling accuracy in this first excursion into the realm of writing a novel.

So many of us question the safety and the future of an automated world - a world where conversation is being converted into tweets and texting, actual experience of nature and artistic events are funneled through the lens of instant photos on cellphones as opposed to standing and experiencing one on one with nature and beauty, and everything from driving (with the emergence of driverless cars), to watching theater films on a iPad, to dissecting symphonies into bits and pieces by electing to download only favorite parts on mp3 via Bluetooth, to microwave cooking, to wifi access everywhere, to purchasing goods with an iPhone and the demise of credit cards and checks, motion opening of car trunks, stoplight cameras to replace traffic cops - the list goes on and on. Is this healthy? Is this using our minds or relinquishing our individuality and ability to communicate/think/respond honestly as an individual? These are some of the questions that clutter our minds while we function by remote control and perform surgery through robotics.

John Mickus tackles our current status in this impressive debut. If the story takes some patience to enter and follow and understand, then this reader believes that is part of John's mission: challenge us to grasp what we have done, are doing, and discover whether what is happening is `meant for greater things,'

With exceptional skill John pulls us into the world of his narrator and to give a bit of an idea where we are going, offers this synopsis: `Jasper Joyce is good with lasers and satellites, but he's not so good with people. He is a loner who actually goes into nature for morning walks only to return to his sterile but wholly automated abode. He prepares for a successful interview for work and becomes Principal Software Engineer for GreenTech Corporation. `Everyday life for others seems to give Jasper a very hard time, but solar physics-- he can understand. Little by little, he endures his new job and continues to build mysterious devices. But why doesn't Mr. Joyce quite fit in? Why does he care so much about us and the world we live in? Does he know something we don't? Many of his inventions are radically advanced. In fact, Jasper is creating technology that will change the world.'

John Mickus weaves a fine story with wholly identifiable characters (even if his Jasper Joyce's brain functions like a James Joyce stream of consciousness), but the true revelation of his book is his ability to place our world of automation squarely before our eyes and lets us take that information and consider it, incorporate it, and perhaps re-program it for our own benefit. THAT is when a book succeeds - if a good story can make us cogitate long after the book is finished. John Mickus has a very strong start with this fascinating book. Grady Harp, March 15
2636377
This is a fun, light, engaging first contact story that approaches the subject from an angle I've never encountered before. In some ways it reminds me a lot of a Star Trek episode (a debt the book itself acknowledges), albeit rendered a lot more seriously.

I say light, but of course A Darkling Sea deals with some pretty heavy conceptsI just wish it dealt with them in a bit more depth (ha ha). I wanted to know more about the Sholen's factions, their world, and their society in general. I wanted to know more about the human government's intentions toward Ilmatar. And I wanted to know more about how the Ilmataran civilization has evolved over time. The twist ending gives hope that we might see some kind of sequel, but I feel like there was a lot more room here for a bigger, more inquisitive novel.

I also feel like the Humans and Sholen each behave pretty unrealistically, given the situation and the stakes. The introduction of the Sholen's factional politics opened the door to some really interesting motivations, but they ended up being used as little more than cover for people behaving stupidly and blowing s*** up. Rob & Co's antics are ridiculously childish and ill-considered, and Graves in particular seems like a cartoon created only to move the plot along. It works, but the seams show pretty clearly. More character development could have done a world of good here, particularly on the Sholen side.
123108
The Serene Invasion by Eric Brown is the author's return to the topic of first contact, much like his linked Kethani stories. The arrival of the Serene brings about a quick and decisive end to violence on Earth, with humans no longer able to commit any acts of aggresion towards each other. With this stark forced change in behaviour, many of the human race praise the intervention, while others simply cannot accept such a massive and unwelcome intrusion. What follows is a look at the changes wrought on humanity, how the representatives of the Serene help guide those around them, and how some simply cannot accept the gift they have given.

Brown manages to tell a gripping and very detailed account of such a change. Not only does he look at the immediate effects fo such an act, but he also shows the longer term effects of the coming of the Serene. While the transition is not entirely without problems, Brown is able to present both sides through various characters, their personal attachements, and just what they want for the future. The Serene Invasion is a quick and compelling read with big ideas and comments on societal change that will stay with you past the story's conclusion. Recommended.
3245635
Seven young girls, Maya, Celene, Astoria, Ally, Maeve, Electra and Tierney, are abducted by Anaz-voohri aliens who enhance their DNA. FULL CONTACT tells the story of one of them, two year old Maya Rembrandt.

Unaware of the abduction Maya academically and intellectually excels. She easilyi earns degrees from Yale and MIT. Maya works for Next Tech Computers in New York City, but something triggers a New York State disaster and readers race through pages of aliens, hybrids and humans to unravel the sci-fi mystery.

Dylan Brady, works for Mythos, a secret society determined to destroy aliens. General Carrick, the arrogant leader controls the world-wide ORION investigative, power organization; and doctors at the Center of Evolution Medicine.

Heathcotte masterfully weaves the tale with character's the reader will root for. The author brings the reader along on a journey where bikes can fly, and artificial intelligence, remote viewing, even a fairy godmother come along for the ride.
4048658
In this first scifi novel, new author Mauri Niininen presents an exciting story of the first contact with extraterrestials.  The Arecibo radio telescope receives a repetitious signal which 2 scientists confirm.  An inadvertent email address auto-complete sends the details to a free-lance journalist who spills the beans.  The story is a virtual page-turner to see how hackers, the Russians, and the US government react to decode the message first.  It is very exciting as the author expertly weaves in known science, historical data, and realistic scenarios in what may happen.  Should any world government reply with another message to Gliese 3742 to acknowledge our receipt or should we remain silent ?

As the first of the trilogy, it makes an exciting tale to see if and how knowing we are not alone brings us the desired peace or unexpected conflict.  I strongly recommend this book by M. Niininen.
141484
I liked the book in general. Well developed characters and a well thought out plot.

It was a good take on first contact and alien exploitation. Very engaging. Not a page turner, but it did keep me coming back, curious as to what happened next.

Well edited, no mistakes that I could find and a solid ending that did motivate to get the next story.
1447291
One of the benefits of choosing a book from the back lot of all the science fiction now available on Amazon is that occasionally one will find something that really is different enough to defy easy categorization. Last Communion by David L. Ryan is one of those finds that made my stroll through the seemingly endless virtual bookshelves pleasantly rewarding.

I think the title refers to a book written in 1987, Communion, which is the purportedly true story of a man abducted by aliens. It became a best seller and helped start a flurry of alien abduction reports. The word communion was then used to refer to a personal contact with extraterrestrials.

This kind of abduction is how :"Last Communion" begins but the plot changes quickly and radically. The hero kind of goes berserker and successfully turns the tables on his kidnappers, totally eliminating them but leaving himself in a dire predicament as a result.

From then on it becomes a kind of Clive Cussler meets Orson Scott Card kind of thing. There are close encounters with human mutants, more aliens, both mutated and run-of-the-mill, Iranian militia, and Mexican drug lords. As I got deeper into the book, I became more and more of a fan of its hero, as flawed and politically incorrect as he might seem, and then of the very appealing heroine as well. The action scenes are well choreographed and convincing. It moves quickly, providing more than a few laughs, and at times seems to hint at some tales untold leaving plenty of room for more spinoff adventures as a result. The ending shocked me but left me anticipating the sequel, due out who knows when.

Its not a long read but you will probably enjoy it and be left wanting more.
65773
Fancying myself an amateur astronomer I loved this story about finding life in our own backyard. Its a must-read tale of first contact thats anything but painless. Between our floundering attempts at understanding and communicating with a life form so utterly alien (no pun intended) that we botch it repeatedly and mankinds seemingly inescapable greed and power struggles this book really entices the reader. Carlson doesn't take the easy way out when inventing his aliens - there's nothing "convenient" here... he's built this world well. Im really looking forward to reading the next 2 books!
3491943
I read this many years after it was written, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Captain Cook is the subject of resentment in parts of the world, but the author presents two sides of the first contact discussion. if not Cook, then someone else from the outside would have made first contact, probably with a similar outcome. The reference to Star Trek" in the title is apt. First contact between two civilizations is just fascinating.

These concepts and more are food for thought, and we can ponder them by enjoying the tale of this modern-day sojourn in the footsteps of Cook.
1757246
Contact Us is a witty, offsets and pseudo-serious take on Earth's first contact with extraterrestrials. While Jake Corby is the hero, the story is told through several points of view.

There are a few parts of the story that just seems unlikely in view of catastrophic events that occur and. I find it difficult that people would react so rationally.

Still I can't recommend Contact Us enough. It is a good story full of wit and charm.
1460714
I'll expand on the title of this review shortly but first some introductory comments.

First contact books tend to fall into one of two categories today. The first is the Star Trek model where the Earth spaceship stumbles upon a new planet inhabited by humans or humanoid beings living in what seems to be very much a Jeffersonian Ideal America, circa, 1850. The captain gets into an adventure with a comely alien and they mate. The captain proclaims the natives to be friendly.

The other trope is that implacable, mysterious, high tech aliens attack humans who are thrown back on their heels but fight back resourcefully and with a good deal of pluck.

Yorktown: Katana Krieger #1 is utterly different. I can't certify it being a unique first contact book, but it's quite different from the vast majority out there which fit into one of the two categories above. Yet as much as the idea is great, the execution leaves a good deal to be desired.

The problem is entirely with the narrator: Katana herself who is named captain of the small warship Yorktown. She's not just unconvincing; she's utterly laughable in this role. She assembles a mostly female crew who themselves aren't at all believable in the way they act or interact. During the first half of the novel I expected the captain to announce that all this space warfare business was just a feint and really, she's decided to form an all girl topless trombone band with herself as lead trombonist.

While it lets up a bit in the second part of the book, in the first half, the captain is obsessed with various things to the point of driving a reader to distraction. One of these things is taking showers. We're told every few pages that she is either taking one or fantasizing about taking one. At one point she takes a 'longgg' (sic) hot shower, goes right to sleep and then wakes up to take another long hot shower.  At one point, stranded, and down to 1 liter per day of water in a life and death situation, the captain wonders not about rescue but how to wash her hair with that daily ration.

Then we have her hair and others' hair too. She boasts that her hair isn't regulation and, after the showers, fluffs out to take up 'half the bridge'. This is the example set by the captain? She also pressures other females to grow long hair and approves when they do.

The capper for me, on how this individual doesn't behave like any captain of a warship would is her insistence that she participates in one after another away missions. Captain Kirk beaming down may have made for good TV 50 years ago, but here, it's just idiocy. The top is when she and one trained Marine do an away mission to take over a hostile warship. She lacks the training or physical ability to be part of a team so she's really a captain and a bodyguard taking on an unknown number of foes. The situation is saved by the most laughable bit of good luck one can imagine.

Can you imagine Dwight Eisenhower hitting the beach at Normandy on 6 Jun 44? Well, that's the equivalent of what the author would have you believe this captain does. Like I said, it's silly and all unbelievable fluff after fluff after shower and shampoo.

In the end, a tedious read which takes one out of the moment time and time again due to the laughable antics of an unrealistic girl captain.  A good idea ruined by the topless trombone band personality of the protagonist.
2004623
I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the surprise twists.  Young adults will be mesmerized by the possibility of a different people and how they might live differently than humans. The details Calleiro created to show ways they communicated captured my imagination.  She also built tension between the characters and the characters' principles that kept me interested.  Callerio should be applauded for her debut novel.  I think we'll see more of her in the future..our good luck.
2765070
It was an interesting read and a good look at first contact from the other way around.  When you think in terms of, extraterrestrials, racism takes a new twist.  If I hadn't read it, I'd buy it and read it.