Pilgrim Machines

De: Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

Narrado por: Peter Berkrot

Humanity has spread to the stars...

For the first time in thousands of years, we have also discovered the Other. The alien. A being so unimaginably complex that it makes us all look like children.

The PCS Blue Cherry Blossom, a long range interstellar freighter, is tasked with the ultimate voyage. What lies at the heart of the galaxy? Who and what is out there? Is it even possible to survive?

Against a backdrop of relentless political and corporate maneuvering, a new crew sets out, prepared to risk their lives and their deaths to set forth into the void and look for answers. To go where no human has ever gone before.

And thus begins a new space odyssey.

Set in the world of the Salvage Crew by award winning writer Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, Pilgrim Machines is perfect for fans of We Are Legion, Battlestar Galactica, Murderbot, Blindsight and Star Maker.

©2024 Aethon Books (P)2024 Aethon Audio

Knows what it is

I loved the first book, despite and because of its sudden veer into cosmic philosophy. This one knows what it is from the beginning. While extremely different, anyone that enjoyed this for the same reasons as I should check out the monk and robot series.

Reminds me of old school sci-fi.

Has a lot of thought provoking "human experience" scenes. Not as fun as the first book but still a good time.

This book contains philosophical spoilers.

The characters in this book are far less interesting than in the first one, so I was distracted by how much more interesting I thought the story would be if it took place from a different perspective.

Transcendently Human

“Pilgrim Machines” by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne is not just a book; it’s an experience. From the first chapter, I was hooked by the author’s ability to craft an interstellar journey that is both intimate and epic in scope. Set aboard the PCS Blue Cherry Blossom, a freighter tasked with a daring expedition to the edge of the galaxy, the story is steeped in mystery, suspense, and profound philosophical musings.

At its core, “Pilgrim Machines” explores what it means to be human when faced with the unknown—an alien entity of staggering intelligence and sophistication. The narrative poses questions about consciousness, the nature of life, and humanity’s place in the cosmos, all without losing its thrilling sci-fi edge. Wijeratne’s prose is poetic yet grounded, blending complex scientific concepts with vivid, emotionally resonant storytelling.

The audiobook, narrated by Peter Berkrot, takes the experience to another level. Berkrot’s performance is stellar; his voice perfectly conveys the tension, wonder, and emotional depth of the story. Every character feels alive, and the pacing of the narration keeps you engaged from start to finish.

One of the standout aspects of this novel is its balance. It’s intellectual without being inaccessible, emotional without being overwrought, and action-packed without losing its contemplative undertones. Fans of hard science fiction, as well as those who appreciate stories with philosophical depth, will find this a compelling listen.

“Pilgrim Machines” is a testament to Yudhanjaya Wijeratne’s talent as a storyteller and world-builder. Whether you’re a long-time sci-fi fan or new to the genre, this book will leave you thinking long after the final chapter. Highly recommended—a solid 5-star experience!

Amazing

A fun and entertaining story which brings out your inner geek and nerd all at once.

starts out slow

In the end, I really enjoyed this book. However, it starts out slow and I had trouble paying attention for the first half of the book.

Excellent performance by Peter Berkrot

'Pilgrim Machines' by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne is some of the most creative writing I have read since Clive Barker's 'Imajica'. 'Pilgrim Machines' takes the reader on an epic voyage via the thoughts and conversations of humans who have now 'willingly' been repurposed for deep space missions. (Is it possible that these machines just thought they were once human? I'll have to think about that.) The intelligence of the machines and their human traits of desire for adventure, immortality, and as Maslow professed, self-actualization certainly lends more toward the belief that these machines were, indeed, once living, breathing organic beings.
The reality of deep space exploration, even not so deep space, will require some technology far beyond what most could imagine except Asimov and this author, Wijeratne.
This was a delightful read that kept me engaged as I transverse the universe as an unnoticed passenger. I must give credit to the wonderful oral presentation of Peter Berkrot, who expertly captured the mood and emotions of the travelers on their quest. - Mr.Bill

Philosophy disguised as fiction

I loved Salvage Crew and was very excited to see a sequel. I kept expecting more action from this book and it really ended up being a collection of the author's musings on life and the universe with bits of science fiction thrown in.

Slow buildup to... not much (spoilers here!)

As others have said, I felt "part 1" to be incredibly slow and hard to follow. After that, the "adventure" part of the book was not bad. I am not sure how much "AI" usage was here to craft this story vs. the first one. I don't regret listening to the entire story, just the ending. Here are the spoilers and what I dislike...











If the Wizard of Oz ending was a Buddhist fantasy then you get the story. The entire story built up to "where do we go from here and what can we learn", only to find that The Great Wizard is "just another sentient being" who learned to rise above "consumption". Yep, that's pretty much it. Conveniently, the Great One found balance by feasting on the death found at the center of the galaxy. Oh, and he/she/it informed that there is no point to anything... only to learn that all life is suffering, and at the Great Ending of All Things, suffering will end. So, that was quite a disappointment for me and a message I have heard told better in other formats. This info was literally "info dumped" in the last chapter. Kind of felt like a video game ending. I honestly had more curiosity about the "Stranger's" civilization and wanted to know more about that vs. what the last chapter brought to us!

sooo boring.

tedious boring exposition about the characters, AI, spaceships, history, etc. even the contact with the aliens were boring. this is where I stopped reading. I couldn't even focus on the first contact message without my mind wandering it was so pointless. characters personalities and motivations were also written in a wooden, as such they were unbelievable. ugh.