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4.1 out of 5

682 global ratings

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2 star		5%
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Joy

Only got it because of Nathan Fillion. Never finished...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 4, 2023

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I'm obsessed with sci-fi and the same goes for Nathan-flipping-Fillion!
But the book as an insane amount of profanity... couldn't enjoy much of it for I stopped before they got far. And this story has an amazing plot and view point from Nathan Fillion's character. Wish they had a censored version 😕 😪 😔 😞 😢 😒

I'm concerned that profanity has influenced and convinced people that it's necessary to be apart of all aspects of life. We are approaching a time where profanity will truly be apart of language and then more horrible words surface becoming the new bads words.

But you know what's worst? Toe sizes! Why don't they all match!

Vj

Rather entertaining game of words

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 18, 2020

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" …what doesn’t kill you makes you stranger."
From The Salvage Crew by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

There couldn’t have been a better year, I think, for The Salvage Crew to be in the world, because Urmagon Beta treats the members of the titular crew, like 2020 is treating us Earthlings — they just can’t catch a break.

You will have heard, if you’ve heard of this book before, about how the poetry in it was co-written by open source AI, how the planet itself was created by a modified version of a planet generator, and how the weather on said planet too is tech generated. Yudhanjaya Wijeratne lays out the details of it all in his foreword to the book, and I’m sure there are better people out there to talk about how all that contributes to making The Salvage Crew a great read. Me, I’m a non-techie. My grasp on science is largely high-school level, and maths barely even that. I can use a computer — but that’s about it.

So, why did I enjoy The Salvage Crew?

For one, I like the characters. Simon, Anna, Milo, and OC despite being from worlds and futures that are alien, are relatable. I understand them and their motivations. I care about them.

The plot, in the way it carries these characters, also kept me hooked. Urmagon Beta keeps throwing challenges at our characters, and I kept looking forward to see how they would adapt to each one.

The most important reason, for why I loved the book — language. I do love languages, and it was fascinating to see how the idea of language and communication fit into this book. I can’t risk saying more, because spoilers. In addition, the ‘voice’ of the OC — laden with sarcasm and irreverence, is something that I greatly enjoyed.

And the poetry! I knew there would be poetry — I wasn’t expecting it to be such a revelation. There is some truly moving poetry here, as also some verses that are tongue-in-cheek. There is a rather entertaining game of words being played here, and I’m all for it.

Which is why, I’ve attempted to write the rest of this review in verse. I daresay though, that it’s hardly a match for the poetry in The Salvage Crew. Here we go, nevertheless:

broken humans on a broken planet
and a voice in their head
like shards of glass.
survival should be simple
for those carrying the burden of their histories;
for those whose mortal homes
know hunger, thirst, love, and loss.
And yet, the siren songs are louder.
It is silence that is unlocked,
the truth that is salvaged.
The crew — pieces on the Go board,
that flicker and burn,
incandescent in the dusk of change.
we dance into the unknown
temporary companions to anxious yearnings.
it all becomes so much like sand
— the slipping away, the flowing
the seeking and the finding.
poetry is guide map, language the key,
the loudest secrets are the unspoken ones,
on other worlds, and our own.
So read, and break the ice,
that encloses frozen thoughts,
and go forth on adventures
that unleash the seas within.

TLDR: Just read The Salvage Crew, okay?

Foolish

Enjoyed but not impressed.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 22, 2021

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There were peaks and valleys to this book. Quite literally skipped some of the poetry packed into this book because it felt as if it were there to only add to the word count. The concept of the book feels as if it isn't quite sure what it wants to be. There are two plots fighting for dominance. The characters feel flat. Understandably because this is told by an AI. Yet, I just feel this story needs something it could achieve with the way it was compiled. As with many books published recently, there is a sense of being rushed to print. I wish the author would have took some time to expand on segments of the story. Instead it's goes like this. Oh crap, we missed our mark because of a crew that is bottom of the barrel. Adversity. Poetry. Adversity with a tinge of mystery created by stupidity that isn't believable. Let's make this interesting with making one character an outcast and weakly unlikable. Oh hey, the other two form an intimate relationship. Why? Because. More adversity peppered with some malfunctioning antagonists. Wait for it. A predictable aha moment. Swirl in some story and character resolution that is also rushed and hollow. Lastly, it's an epiphany of we're not alone sprinkled with a To Be Continued. I hate saying this, but it all felt bland. Some may be reading this and wondering why I have this book a 3-star rating. The reason is I finished the book. The author has something here. It's a few concepts becoming highly popular in some circles. The brakes need to be pulled back on this and developing believable reasoning for why what happens must occur. Then this will be an incredible journey to partake in.

Ronan

Sci Fi at its best

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 18, 2021

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An amazing amount of hard work, innovation and creative thinking has gone into this - mind blowing. I found the introduction by the author quite illuminating. Apparently he created an IG page for AI poetry (couldn't find it though)
The story is narrated by an opinionated and sometimes snarky AI personality named Amber Rose who has a view on everything and everyone. She grows on you after a while...
And the poetry - what part does poetry play in civilization? You will have to read this to find out!
The beginning was a little slow, but then it's a salvage run to an uninhabited world - you don't want things to go wrong on page one, huh?
I loved the twist at the end
I feel this is definitely a book all sci fi fans should read. And I feel it would also appeal to a larger discerning audience who like a little philosophy with their tea.

Top reviews from other countries

KeithL

Dystopian future meets Alien

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 2, 2021

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I can understand how some other reviewers have reacted badly to this book as it is a very dark view of human society and how it might develop. That said the scenario of a small group treated as expendable by an amoral corporation and legal abuse of power by big businesses is only too relatable. Good story telling drew me in and made me think. I found the ending and the interaction with alien intelligence a bit less convincing. Well worth a read and I will look out for more by this author.

jason Smith

Don't Bother, it's not a good book..

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 16, 2020

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An awful book, about a so called AI that lives within the ship who spend almost the entire book shouting at the crew (not actually shouting) (caps lock stuck on) that was once human, the story is disjointed and plods along not making much sense at all, and to my opinion not really ever getting to the point, when the story does eventually progress, it jumps about and never really satisfies. I read this book as the concept of being told from a computer AI intrigued me, I needn't of bothered, don't waste your time on this book, it has very little by the way of redeeming features..

Paul Martin

Not my cup of tea

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 1, 2020

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Story is from the ships all knowing AI's point of view so I couldnt connect with any of the other characters .Also parts of story dont make sence to me like how its profitable to bother salvaging the ship using all the high tect equipment and ships they use in the first place. Sorry but I just didn't enjoy it and wanted to finish it as quickly as possible so I could start something else.

DarkTheyWereAndGoldenEyed

An entertaining read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 13, 2020

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Really enjoyed this book. Started off as the normal kind of SF book that I usually read but told in an amusing way. Ended up in a place I wasn't expecting.

Graham

Very good book, very good narration

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 7, 2021

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It’s solid sci-fi and with the audiobook you get narration by Nathan Fillian. It’s like listening to an episode of Firefly. Not to be missed.

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