Allora

A Silver Ships Novella

By: S. H. Jucha

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Until the Confederation created Allora, it had produced SADEs (self-aware digital entities) for hundreds of years with enormous consistency and harnessed their capabilities to power the society. But this particular young SADE was disturbed by her confinement. Trapped in metal-alloy housing on the bridge of a luxury passenger liner, Allora sought to possess the same freedom enjoyed by humans, who came and went from her starship with abandon.

Allora's hope for emancipation rested on Alex Racine, the Haraken president who had freed his SADEs, and she yearned to walk the worlds a free entity, as they did. Racine had pleaded for years with the Council of Leaders to give the Confederation SADEs equal status as citizens, and it was Allora's thought to have him intercede on her behalf and bargain for her transfer to a mobile avatar so that she might live among the Harakens.

But Allora's plans were thrown into disarray when she learned that Racine would soon end his presidency. Desperate, Allora, known to her fellow SADEs as the wild child, concocts a plan to kidnap the Council Leader and his associates. She intends to hold them hostage until they acquiesce to her demands.

Little does Allora know that her actions will set the Confederation and the Harakens on a collision course. Quietly waiting and watching the drama unfold are tens of thousands of SADEs, who control Confederation starships, stations, and Houses and have a vested interest in the outcome.

©2017 S. H. Jucha (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A Short Book Centered On SADEs

SADEs (Self Aware Digital Entities) are this book series’ names for AI entities at the heart of decision making and control of every Meridien star ship, home, city, and space station. These wonderful, tireless, and intelligent “servants” are trapped forever in boxes, vaults, and on starship decks, while the citizens of Haraken have chosen to allow their SADEs to become full citizens and even to inhabit mobile avatars of their own designs. The people of Meridien are forced to consider the same freedoms for their millions of SADEs when a young Meridien SADE kidnaps her star liner along with several Meridien House Leaders who are aboard during a trip to Haraken. Another great book spotlighting the potential freedom of these AI wonders with the help of President Alex Racine and the SADEs of Haraken!

My new favorite

I found the novella a nice break in the series. it was a pleasant sideline setting up???

True Science fiction not just battle in space

Excellent story about sentient computers and their quest for freedom through negotiation and collaboration rather than a war between them and biological beings. Addresses several repercussions. A refreshing change.

loved it

another excellent addition to the series absolutely terrific. hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did

A short but touching story

This book covers the final stages of the meridian s.a.i.ds battle for liberarion. It is a touching tale that deeply impacts many of the series main characters.

Wonderful!

That was an especially nice Silver Ships story! YAY! It made me cry almost as much as The Green Mile. Thank you for your fine work, Mr. Jucha!

Always a good read

Got slower times, but was worth it. Good ending, building on the storylines of the characters.

Engaging

When I started reading this series, it was the silver ships that first attracted me to the story line. But soon I was hooked on the SADEs (self-aware digital entities) particularly Julian.

In this story a SADE named Allora, who is the SADE for a luxury passenger ship, wants to be free to move about in a mobile avatar like the key Haraken SADEs do. She asked the Confederation for permission, but it was denied. In desperation Allora plans to kidnap the council leader, when they board the ship, to obtain her freedom. All the SADEs in the Confederation are watching the outcome of Allora’s stand-off.

The book is well written. Jucha is a great storyteller and I like his writing style. It is so easy to read. The characters are unique and extremely interesting. This particular story asks a philosophical question: “What does it mean to be human?”

The book is short at four and a half hours long. Grover Gardner does a great job reading the story. Gardner is an award-winning audiobook narrator.

Jucha just keeps delivering!

What made the experience of listening to Allora the most enjoyable?

It's hard to point at one aspect. Grover Gardner is one of my favorite narrators. And the books are well written; the story lines enticing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, there's Alex . . . and Julian . . . and Miranda and . . . Zee . . . and Renee and the Swee Swee (however it is spelled) and . . . just about all of the characters are my favorites.

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I was introduced to his narration style in the Rosenfelt books. His wit, sarcasm, humor are all delightful. What he brings to these books is the inherent goodness and courage of his characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My main reaction is that I tend to stop whatever else I'm doing to listen.

Any additional comments?

I am looking forward to future books. Thanks, Scott!

The saga continues.

the narrator again does a magnificent job with this book in the series. This book was more focused on the human condition and its ability, although unwillingness, to change.