Real Sci-Fi is alive!
595162
Hammerhead is a book that will grab your attention in the first chapter and make you call in sick to work until you have it finished. Much of the books that are pawned off as sci-fi these days is mostly fantasy. The author seems to be channeling Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein! Space ships, war, alien invasions, powerful megalomaniacs trying to take over the world, it's *all* there. Add to that a core group of characters you start to identify with, along with a little male/female tension without being R rated, and you have one of the best books you have read this year!

I'm looking forward to the next book from the author! It'll definately be on my *must read* list as soon as it's out!
3565191
This book by D.H.Draws was captivating!  I am not fond of science fiction type books, but this one seemed alarmingly too real for comfort; I was caught up in the plot and couldn't put it down. Our world today is constantly experiencing problems with natural resources: not enough; too much; lack of control; too much control, etc.  Perhaps all the real life scientists and politicians of today should read this stimulating fictional book.  It might trigger fresh ideas and some possible directions to pursue as they attempt to keep our planet maintained successfully,  It is evident that the author has delved and researched to write this story in this believably convincing manner.  The descriptive passages illuminating the prominent characters in their quest for success were outstanding.  Again, the scientific input was astounding!  I'll be looking for the next book, D.H.Draws.
3050370
One of the best sci-fi (and this is REAL sci-fi!) I read in EVER. Well, it is better than other Neal's books that are in fact also awesome!
1508125
This was a very satisfying sequel to number one! The characters are still genuine and the author has a great ability to describe a fascinating future world, but at the same time address hopes, fears, phobias, experiences and challenges that readers will identify with. She does a fantastic job of keeping  the  human experience real in a sci-fi setting. By a few chapters in I was hooked and couldn't
 put it down until I was done.
4266621
In return for a gracious offer of a free Kindle copy of this book, I am happy to present the following honest review in return ...
If you enjoy good scifi then this book has plenty to offer: Current-cutting-edge science in the fields of bio-chemistry, DNA research, quantum physics, artificial intelligence, astronomy and other important new fields; blended with some controversial concepts such as ancient aliens, time travel, worm holes, cryogenics, evolution and human history. All of these elements and more ... including OOPARTS (anomalic- "out-of-place-artifacs") are wound around a tight suspenseful thriller which keeps your imagination growing even past the books conclusion. My only reason for not rating the book 5-Star is because I felt that this particular novel may have included just a bit too-much speculative science than required to tell the story. Sometimes it becomes a problem for a new author to include "more than is really necessary" rather than not enough. But I don't think that will be a problem for most readers. This novel is entertaining and highly creative.
1941894
The Life Engineered by J-F Dubeau is a powerful and awesome sci-fi book that should be a movie! I am an old woman and have been reading sci-fi since I was a small child and have been a sci-fi geek since. I read hundreds of books a year and this book is in the top 10 books I have ever read in the sci-fi category. I loved it! I won this book from Goodreads and I am so glad I did, and it is a real book, no ebook! The setting is far in the future where Earth was going to be inhabitable so humans planned to go into stasis until it was safe. The main scientist's wife didn't trust the robots to protect and wake them so she convinced her husband to make it so only the last generation of robots, and only a special few, would know when and where to find them and wake them. Two thousand years later, her paranoia paid off. The story is about a select few of these unique sentient creatures that are for and against humans, even though humans seem to be a thing of legend at this point. Robots have inherited the galaxy and tirelessly formed a society throughout the system. The author draws you in from the very beginning and through out the book you learn the society, the wonderful variety of robots, their abilities, and why this new robot is special. This book has all the action, adventure, thrills, emotions, uniqueness, intrigue, and twists you would not expect from a book about robots. The characters so well developed and complex and the plot is excellent with lots of unexpected turns and surprises. I can't wait for his next book. I hope a director picks this book up and reads it so we can some day see it on the big screen as I have seen it in my imagination! Wonderful job! I will be watching this author!
1503322
This is a riveting Sci Fi story about the end of the Earth as we know it!  This book, and the first two in the series, relates the story from the viewpoint of a single man in the armed forces.  The tension, the suspense, the agony, are all at a peak, and the battle scenes are as well described as any I have ever read.  This may not be classic fiction, but it is extremely entertaining, involves you totally in the story, and may not be forgettable.
1900870
The amount of sci-fi available today is amazing...and what is truly amazing about this book is the new direction it goes with intelligent life and super intelligent people.  Space-time, wormholes, gravitic time dilation, death row inmates, and a decidedly dystopian vision of a  future United States.  I devoured this book in one sitting and look forward to book #2
3468248
Best sci-fi I've read in ages! I'm in my 60s and have been a voracious reader for most of these years . I've  read all the classic sci-fi as well as many other genre.  Mr. Long will certainly be in with the best group with Roddenberry, Ben Bova, Isaac  Asimov , and more!
What a GREAT ride!  The story telling is perfect.  There's enough character-building to give depth and humanity to the main characters without being soppy, but dimensional with each one.  Even the hitchikers take on some of that, too. Please don't fall into the trap of expanding the story so much we become lost in myriad threads of other characters and plot bunny trails.
Mr. Long if you can keep this rolling with the same quality, I  would almost put you up there with Tolkein.
Only two negative remarks...better editing only a few transcribing typos and why do the hell do I  have to wait for more!
Mush on, Mr. Long! Mush on!
3932635
If you are not a science fiction reader do not be discouraged. This is more of a futuristic novel than a science fiction. As other's have stated this is a great page turner. The charters are very well developed and the story is very easy to follow with a great pace. There are great plot twists! I am excited and waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book that I know will be forthcoming. I am hoping that this will turn into the next "must read" series! Possibly even some movies?
4650393
Ok, I have read every hard sci-fi novel ever written. Most of the time the author tries to wow with the tech. This time the author wows with the stories of real to life people, interwoven in such a way as to be completely relatable. Time travel paradox? Check. Doomsday? Check. Human reactions to situations? Check. Mad scientist screw ups? Check. Rolling on floor laughing?  Check. Can't wait for all the rest of the universe to be devoloped? Check
4127982
Highly recommended!

Real science fiction starts with a premise and explores it realistically and, if we lucky, in an entertaining manner.

This fast paced, well written (in my humble opinion) story qualifies nicely.

As a bonus, despite being the first of a series, the ending provides a good sense of closure.
3429735
As a reader of hundreds of sci fi space stories, Nick Webb did a wonderful story here. A little bit of everything required to satisfy me as space science fiction, but yet giving it an actual human emotions, feelings, and thoughts.  I couldn't read it fast enough. Anxiously waiting for book two!
4136692
As a longtime reader of SF since the days of pulp, I call out to my peers - take notice! This book has some of the visionary brilliance of books like Diamond Age or Daemon, and does a fantastic job of exploring long term implications of millineum of space colonization paired with advances in transhumanism, biotech, ai and nanotech without becoming utterly alien and unsympathetic in nature... in fact the overall tone is reminiscent of a Heinlein coming of age novel (think Starman Jones) or perhaps a more recent effort like Quarter Share. In short, this book is the Real Deal and should be getting the attention of anyone well versed in hard SF, particularly those with an interest in cyberpunk, transhumanisim or far future space opera.
3774837
Great and frightening story. In particular, I like how Hertling grounded the story in the ordinary day of his main characters. Good Job! I particularly like Sci-Fi that feels real. This author has accomplished that task very well. My day job is in IT. As a project manager for a large multinational corporation, I appreciated the verisimilitude he used to ground the more fantastic parts of the story. Writing Sci-Fi is about coming up with an entertaining story that has something to say. His characters are believable, and as I am a novelist myself, "Phoenix Republic, The Lone Star Gambit," & "Sovereigns Journey," I don't have time for stories that don't feel realistic and are without a point.
While reading the novel I kept thinking how one would prevail in a similar real-life situation. I believe that a technological singularity is coming, and likely, it is coming fast. Already today there is no such thing as privacy, and every convenience we embrace only accelerates that process. Be very careful what you wish for.

Suffice it to say that I plan to read the rest of the series.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Danielle-Wedgeworth/dp/B00FE08BHA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Danielle Wedgeworth</a>
1069025
Freriks creates a vivid environment where reality meets science fiction. From the first chapter of the book, I was taken on a literary journey painted with mystery, exploration, humor, and imagination. Bravo to Tim for writing such a great book!
2154685
Definitely one of the best near SciFi books I have read up to now. It offers a fascinating vision of (not to) futuristic technologies and especially the social problems that these changes would bring. Believeable characters to off a top-notch story. Absolute recommendation!