Blueshift

By: Joshua Dalzelle

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

If you could be the first to lay eyes upon a planet orbiting a distant star, would you go?

If it meant that when you returned home - if you returned home - everyone you knew would have been dead for centuries, would you still go?

The members of the Polaris Project knew what they were giving up when they volunteered to fly to the star named Angel-21, but the allure of being the first explorers to leave the Solar System far outweighed the risks. As it turned out, the most dangerous thing they faced wasn't the mission...it was the homecoming. Eight hundred years have passed, and Earth is nothing like they thought it would be.

As Commander Markus Brentwood scrambles to uncover the mystery of what's happened to Earth in their absence, he also must contend with an increasingly dysfunctional crew and a damaged ship that's flying on borrowed time. What should have been a joyous return home after a long, hard mission has turned into a race to see which nightmare would kill them first.

©2018 Joshua Dalzelle (P)2018 Podium Publishing

An exploration of humanity's dark side

Let me start by saying that I am an inveterate Joshua Dalzelle fan. He has a wonderful way of introducing me to characters whom I like, can often identify with, and who make me feel like I am maybe a little better person after getting to know them. THE BLACKFLEET TRILOGY, THE EXPANSION WARS TRILOGY, the entire OMEGA FORCE SERIES -- they are all full of characters you can develop a real kinship with.

I did NOT find this to be the case with BLUESHIFT. While some may feel the examination of group dynamics when put in the unique circumstances found in BLUESHIFT to be a worthwhile endeavor, I did not. The brutal and dark side of human behavior which kept emerging as the story progressed was not how I like devote my mental real estate. Realistic, one might ask? Very possibly. Reality notwithstanding, this was one novel I could have done without.

Paul Heitsch gives his usual stellar interpretation of the characters. He is a marvel, and a joy to listen to.

Not my cup of tea.

I wanted more interaction between the crew and the humans who had continued to advance in the intervening 800 years. Instead we spend most of the time dealing with feral humans.

I found myself asking "why" a lot. Why were narcissists and psychopaths allowed on board? What was so important about the drives carrying the "history of mankind?" In the end the question became "what's the point?" This could have been really good if the author had stuck with one plot.

I'm just disappointed. I usually enjoy this author's work. I will continue reading his work.

Survival!

Some readers/reviewers did not survive Joshua Dalzelle's excellent tale of isolation and survival. It was not, after all, Omega Force or the intrepid Black Fleet. Right, but it was not supposed to be. Mr. Dalzelle stretches his wings in another sci-fi direction and I for one say, "Huzzah!" Seriously. This is a superb and very well written tale, the theme of which is touched on by a few sci-fi motion pictures of the last few years but not nearly with this kind of gut-wrenching "Oh no!" outcome. Will there be Blueshift #2? One can hope!

Very solid 4.5 stars

Part science fiction and part thriller this novel is a solid 4.5 stars. The characters are interesting. The story is compelling. I enjoyed the narrator. Overall very well done. Will there be a sequel? I don’t know. If there is I will certainly buy it.

Loose Ends

The story was well done however I wish there was a bit less whining. I know these were civilians but really...get over it. Once they got on Earth conversation got a little more bearable. Other than that the story was very original. Unfortonately there were some loose ends at the conclusion of the story so I hope there will be a follow up.

Pleasant Surprise

I took a chance on this book since it was included in Audible Plus. I liked the synopsis so I took a chance. I was very impressed by the book. You have a group of interplanetary explorers that awaken on their return to Earth and prepare to be welcomed home as heroes. Surprise! They are coming home to an Earth that is 800 years older in real time. Their first indication that something might be wrong is the lack of activity in the solar system as well as the lack of communication from Earth. What we learn when the crew first awakens is that the members were not screened well psychologically and that has created issues between the surviving crew members. How big these issues are come to light when troubles arise soon after they enter Earth orbit. We find that some descendants are living on Mars, but there are some on Earth. Big differences between the two!! As the trouble builds, the surviving crew members end up on Earth, hoping for rescue by their Martian colonies. However, instead of working together the majority work for their own interests based on what they know and assume - big emphasis on assume. Maybe a little more communication might have helped, but the interpersonal conflicts eliminated that possibility.

I see this book as being realistic in terms of possible human behavior in a crisis situation. Some might view it as being negative and harmful - but I feel the reactions of everyone involved were very possible depending on the personalities of the people involved. I can see this story being continued in a series - there is a LOT of story left to tell - so maybe we will get to learn what happens to the survivors somewhere down the road!

Great story!! I would recommend you take a chance at listening/reading this book!!!!

The Future

In the future they no longer teach that trepanning was an early medical treatment?

You can't go back

I pretty much loved this book. The story was really good. Given the standard miserable quality of most sci-fi, this is more of a compliment than it sounds. I genuinely looked-forward to each listening session with this audio book. It was a real pleasure.

Despite one big logic trench, about earth time passing vs. evolutionary time, the whole thing held together quite well. I mean in 800 years, not much can evolve. But the character development was incredibly good. Emotionally engaging, no real heroes, no real villains. Just survival and hard choices.

It would be a shame if this book didn't get an award for something.

i listened all the way through

Many books don't get a full listen by me so this is something. the characters are interesting. the story is interesting. i've seen people who complained of foul language but there are only 2 or 3 curse words in the story- people do curse when life is falling apart on them.
not a perfect story but good mindless listen

Love Josh Dalzelle's Other Works, just not this 1

This story lost me as soon as (minor spoiler)...it was clear there had been a major evolutionary change in just 800 years. Come on!

I'm sorry but I couldn't get to the end.

I found the characters weak and incredibly dull. The continuos bickering and fighting between the crew was worthy of Hollywood. As I'm sure this kind of crap would make an excellent sci-fi film. I tried and tried to finish this but I just couldn't be doing with the needless violence and complete lack of any sci-fi'ness.

Not as good as you'd expect from this team.

A weak story well produced and presented, let down at core by author who didn't even phone this in, possibly a couple of texts.

A very interesting story

Paul Heitsch is always an instant hit with his delivery. im interest in further instalments.

Great fun

I really enjoyed this. The premise sounded a little dull in my opinion but I was hooked fairly quickly. Some of the protagonists are a little 2 dimensional but the idea was great. Looking forward to the next one. Narrator was very good.

Good story/Poor narration

A good premise for a story, ruined by appallingly bad robotic narration . Managed to get to chapter 18 before it became to distracting and irritating to continue.
Would suggest author searches out a better narrator for future releases.

Great idea well executed

A great idea well executed - just one quibble - has he left the outcome of the mission to find an exoplanet a mystery because he will be writing a prequel? If so what a novel idea - write the story backwards

Not his best

I listened to this of the back of the Black Fleet trilogy and to be honest I was disappointed. It was ok but I didn’t care for the characters at all. I wasn’t keen on the narration for the story either. The whole thing lacked …. life.

Good story

Enjoyed the book finished it very quickly only negative I found some of the science a little suspect but overall would recommend.

Not my cup of tea!

I have several of the authors books in my collection, but this was not as good as the others I have. I felt detached from the characters he created, which is unusual, but that is my opinion. Preview and make up your own mind. 1/5

Thoroughly enjoyed

Started listening at 8pm on 1.4x, went to sleep at 2am, finished the book the next morning.

Nice little bit of escapism.