An Ancient Enemy

A Destiny's Crucible Novella

By: Olan Thorensen

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

When an alien spacecraft accidentally destroys United Flight 4382, 27 passengers and crew are saved...but life as they knew it ceases to exist.

Five survivors find themselves on the planet Anyar, including Joseph Colsco, Mark Caldwell, and Heather Chen. Some others have different destinations.

Cast away on a planet with bizarre physical features unlike anything on Earth, Dan and Liza Oglethorpe will never again set foot on Earth. They will never again talk with family and friends. They will never again see an ocean. They are thrust into a fantastical fate that eventually leads them, six years later, after dangers are overcome and a measure of peace is achieved, to a morning in a dry valley on an alien planet...and the uncertainty of living through a battle to see evening.

©2020 Olan Thorensen (P)2021 Podium Audio

Obviously a set-up for the next book(s)

This is obviously a set-up for the next book(s) ... a bit short but still very intriguing if you've read (listened) to the entire series.
i just wish they were coming out faster. i hate waiting for the next book.

You know when a book is over and they want you...

...to listen to the first part of the next upcoming book? That's what this whole thing should have been.

I almost spent a credit on this book, but instead saw the purchase price was just a few bucks. Glad I noticed that.

Needs more, and worked into Anyar

Novellas are nice experimental projects. This needs to be expanded into a novel. I agree with reviews that say it reads like the third and fourth chapter of a larger book. That being said, Anyar has not been nearly enough explored to rule out inclusion of this story into the Anyar tales. Half the planet is water. The other half is land. Not all of the water has been explored. Has all the land been explored? I doubt it. In that land there could be a Dune-like region named by its inhabitants as Mirica that has not been discovered... Or did the Oglethorpe couple merely name that new world Mirica because they were military and enjoyed promoting America wherever they were stationed. Is that their private name for the planet Anyar? None of this is explored. It needs to be. Especially if it will eventually involve conflict or resolution with the story of Joseph Cisco. And Chen. And the others cast onto Anyar after the tragic midair collision of United Flight 4382 with an alien spacecraft. It has to be pulled together and this mid-story teaser just sucks at doing that, unless of corse, it is an introduction into something more inclusive. Good 3 hours of listening though. Have fun!

Not worth the credit or even 1/2 a credit.

75% of the story is a VERY detailed description of battle preparation. The main characters are interesting but there is no time devoted to developing them. I feel like I could summarize the pieces of the story that move the larger story along in about two sentences.

I think the book is okay

I think the book was okay however it was too short and it was a edited version of itself and a lot of detail was left out if they would have made it into a full book.
and separated from the other book series it would have been a lot better.

Very very very short.

Hardly related to the overall story - and only a few hours long. Not worth the credit tbh, and that’s disappointing as this is one of my all time favorite series.

TREMENDOUS DISAPPOINTMENT

very remotely, I mean very, to story line. The protagonist were on the plane. That is it. Placed on different planet, they commence to help other primitives fight a boring war. Will return this one unless they tie it into the series later

Just a long battle with a mildly interesting ending

I really wanted to like this, but the whole story is just a battle with only slight details about the flight or their lives. If there was more background on their lives in general, I would have been more receptive for the technical-detail-heavy story.

Tasty in-between snack.

This is a book that's worth picking up if:

You don't mind it not expanding on the primary Anyar storyline.
You generally enjoy Olan's writing & Jonathan's voice acting.
You're interested in the background implications of the overarching plotlines.

If those criteria ring even a little bit true, this is a book with quite good value as long as you're aware what it is. Its a short story for a cheap price (at the time of writing: Shy of 4 buckaroos.)
If you like Olan's other works and don't mind a detour to smell the flowers Then it's a title that's well worth picking up.

DO. NOT USE A CREDIT

I accidentally spend a credit on this 3 dollar book and was unable to return it (right after I used the credit!) the story is good. But 100% not worth 11.50.

fantastic short...

if your reading this then I reckon your well invested in the series as a whole...
I have given this 5 stars for that reason alone but if your new to this then it could very easily be confusing with absolutely no back story...
The story arc needs a other 5 books (after the original 6 ) to finally get to a conclusion...
Unfortunately Olan Thorensen takes way too long to get them out so ot6s gonna be a few years till that happens...
Jonathan davis is yet again brilliant his tone suck you in...
my recommendation is EARTHCORE followed by MOUNT FITZ ...another easy 5 stars...

An interesting dilemma for all of us

Of the 27 missing persons of flight United 4382, we have heard the stories of only 5 up to now. This is a brief step into the lives of two more survivors, Liza & Dan Oglethorpe, both military personnel. The social development of their hosts appears to be earlier than Anyar's (1,000 CE, earlier? BCE?) and they are facing an enemy that periodically arises and usually defeats them. With the Oglethorpes' assistance they are trying new ways of fighting. The Oglethorpes are also trying to change the way their hosts have traditionally thought about their ancient enemy so that they are better equipped to face them should they need to in the future.
It is only after the battle, when the Oglethorpes have the opportunity to examine the bodies of the fallen enemy, that the dilemma arises. A question for all of us is: how would we proceed after this revelation? should we try to change our host's perception of the enemy and his practices? A good one, Olan!
Jonathan Davis uses his excellent skills to bring to life the story and the characters.