Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

De: Martin Wilsey

Narrado por: Andrew Tell

Barcus is a working stiff looking for a good paycheck. When the Ventura and its crew enter orbit for a scheduled planet survey, the ship activates an automated defense system protecting the planet. Although the Ventura is destroyed in the attack, Barcus alone survives the harrowing fall to the remote planet surface. He struggles to remain alive and sane, and to discover why everyone he knew and loved on the Ventura was deliberately murdered.

Swinging between despair and fury, Barcus discovers that for every answer he obtains, there are more questions raised. Barcus is assisted by the Emergency Module, Em, his most useful tool. It is an artificial intelligence system contained in an all-terrain vehicle specifically designed to help him survive. Barcus soon finds himself in the middle of a planetary genocide of the local native population. He is unable to stand passively by as more people die, even if they are long lost colonists who fear "the Man from Earth" like children fear the monster under their bed.

Will Barcus ever find his way home? Will he find out who is responsible? Will his rage just burn this world down? Or will he find his soul in the eyes of a starving, frightened woman?

©2015 Martin Wilsey (P)2015 Martin Wilsey

good but didn't connect

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Was a good start for the series. But for me i couldn't connect with the story so was hard for me to finish.

Any additional comments?

Audio book blast book free review copy.
thank you.

Rule 1: Don't go into space without AI buddies

I give this book high marks for its interesting primary, secondary and even tertiary characters of the story. The author's writing is also very good; albeit, a bit too repetitive at times. The narrator was also good but his tone came off with a bit too much empathy for my tastes. The beginning part of the novel was somewhat slow in its unfolding and took some patience to stick with it, however, the listener will be rewarded after that. At its core, the story is about a surprise downing of a friendly starship onto a hostile planet and the seemingly sole survivor's quest to then make those who killed his loved one and all his friends pay for this atrocity. While on the planet, he discovers many more reasons to hate the pitiless rulers for their heinous assaults on the peaceful inhabitants.

Caveat: While tastefully written there are some intimate moments which some may feel are too revealing for adolescents.

different

I went into this book thinking it was a space story from looking at the cover. it is not. character crash lands on planet with all this tech and the people are so backward like 1200's . women are basically slaves?? not my kind of story. my eyes kept rolling.. narrator Andrew Tell does an excellent job . "This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Wow... Just wow.

An amazing mix of old English knights and modern tech. A classic one man against all odds vs tyranny. A story. I , cannot wait for book 2.

Can't wait for Book 2

What made the experience of listening to Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1) the most enjoyable?

The plot was fantastic, the dash of sci-fi, a sprinkle of survival, with a dusting of world building. It was a great listen. I await Book 2.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it was.

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Not to my taste...

This story has pretty decent bones, and I actually kinda liked the story thread and characters, but that's as far as it went. The execution leaves much to be desired!  The writing is stiff, stilted, and often redundant. Awkward syntax runs rampant throughout! 
I picked up this story because I've  enjoyed Andrew Tell's narration of other books... unfortunately, you can have the best narrator in the world, but great narration can't turn a lump of clay into a bar of gold... Even with Andrew at the helm, I was only able to finish this book because I sped up the playback .

I received a copy of this audio title for free in exchange for an unbiased review. 

Instructive

If my space ship is shot down over a planet where life is similar to medieval Earth, I will find this book invaluable as a survival guide. Having an almost omniscient AI and some trusty high tech weapons would also prove handy.

Good People Doing Good Things

Still Falling is the first book in an ongoing series. The book is told in two paths, the main one being the story of Barcus and his exploits on a backwards planet he was stranded on, and the second, which is used to open each chapter, covering an investigation taking place at some time in the future investigating the Solstice 31 incident. I'd have to take off half a point for the story due to the fact that the main story I felt told a very good tale, and ended in a satisfying junction, but the investigation story just stopped. From a story telling perspective, as a reader I find that pretty unforgivable, to have listened to an entire longish novel and have no idea what one particular story thread was actually about. I even rewound and listened to a lot of the chapters again to see if I missed something, but no.

That aside, I did enjoy the story and liked how it was essentially the story of a good man in a bad situation, coming to terms with a new world he is on, and his unfailing journey to make that world a better place, and the hardships on.

The narration was very clear and easy to listen too, and the only reason I had for rewinding was not due to missing something said, but the above mentioned missing something I think the author did not write...

In all an enjoyable listen, and I look forward to the next book. I did get this book as a free review copy, but I'd likely purchase the second book when available, just to find out what happens next.

I Love a Good Colonization Story

Barcus is aboard The Ventura, a deep space survey ship with over 2000 other men and women when it enters the orbit of the planet Baytirus and is immediately shot down. Due to a bit of good luck, or maybe bad, Barcus is in a space suit in a shuttle when the Ventura is attacked and he manages to reach the planet safely. There he activates the Emergency Module AI, or EM, who takes control and formulates a plan to get him to safety. As Barcus learns more about the residents of the planet and the near medieval society they've formed, he finds himself unable to resist helping them.

Sci fi books don't usually end up on my to read list, but I love a good colonization story. This one hit all the right buttons for me, with the added bonus of a medieval setting that seemed like a fantasy book and a page turning puzzle. Those short incident investigation reports at the beginning of each chapter kept me hooked and reading on. The characters are great, Barcus isn't perfect by any means, but he's human and real and has everyone's best interests at heart. Even though the colonization part may be over, I'm invested in these people and I've already picked up the sequel.

The narration was well done, with different voices for each character, and he was really easy to listen to. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall