Colonization

Alien Invasion, Book 3

By: Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Humanity isn't all they left behind.

Two years later, the world lives in fragile peace. But a clandestine search has begun...and a clock has started ticking.

Two years after first contact, Astral forces have established their fragile kingdom around the globe. Motherships occupy the cities. Shuttles patrol the lawless outlands. The pacifist class of Astrals known as Titans assist humans in running their alien empire while bloodthirsty Reptar peacekeepers ensure that order is kept. And unseen in the ships above, a third class of visitor calls the shots - the unseen Divinity, worshipped and feared by citizens in equal measure.

Meyer Dempsey sits on his plinth as Viceroy of Heaven's Veil, on the old site of Vail, Colorado. As with other Viceroys in the eight other world capitals, humanity's remains revere Meyer almost as a god. But below the surface, both colonies and outlands have begun to crumble with unrest.

Until now the rebellion has been quiet. Now desperation bubbles as they learn the Astrals have begun digging for an ancient device buried beneath the glowing blue Apex at Heaven's Veil.

But twin truths of the forthcoming alien war (or a possible alien apocalypse) have dawned at Benjamin Bannister's facility in Moab, sending plans into action: The Astrals have lost what they hoped to uncover.

And humanity's only chance is to find it first.

©2015 Sean Platt; 2015 Johnny B. Truant (P)2016 Podium Publishing

It doesn't turn toward religion.

Would you consider the audio edition of Colonization to be better than the print version?

No idea. I didn't read the print version. It's much better than Contact though.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Trevor. His balls are finally dropping.

Which scene was your favorite?

Anytime something bad happened to Rog.

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

No. It was entertaining.

Any additional comments?

The book mentions aliens and religion in context to the story of aliens, panspermia, and history. It's science fiction. That this other reviewer is "tapping out" because the book correlates, very loosely, aliens and religion is a joke. That aliens could have had some relation to religion is impossible to avoid in any book that has aliens. Any book that has aliens will have some impact on religious beliefs. If that offends you, don't read science fiction or fantasy.

It is not a religious book at all....not even remotely so. If you like the series so far, continue. This book is much better than Contact in that the aliens are here and are in control.

Too many books, not enough story

All the female characters are written as the same whiny, sarcastic person and the narrator has a variety of male voices but can only muster up one for every single woman in the books.

While I do enjoy the story, there's barely any of it in each book. If the subsequent novels go down to $4 bucks a piece let me know, that's all I'm willing to invest at this point.

Great Read!

Love it. Meyer rocks! Although Piper has become annoying, the story carries on well.

Great

Great story, Great author. It is absolutely worth the purchase and read. It has adventure, humor, drama, all that you want in a book. You wont be disappointed.

Ray Porter made this one for me

This was my least favorite of the first 3. Lost the characters in the story. If Ray was doing the 4th I might have tried it.

solid

the book throws out some serious twists that make it a compelling read. worth every penny!

Lots of characters to keep straight

It’s hard to keep the story straight when the author is actively switch back-and-forth between characters. This is meant to be an audiobook. The author should remember that a lot of people are doing a lot of things while they’re listening to this book. they’re not just sitting in bed, listening to it.

Also, it takes a lot of credits to get through the entire series as each book is not that long

NO, it does not "turn toward religion."

Where does Colonization rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Gosh... I generally learn towards literature, so it's not at that level - but it's fun and perfect for something to listen to whilst my hands are busy.

If you’ve listened to books by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant before, how does this one compare?

About the same - but I've only heard their "Alien Invasion" series.

Which character – as performed by Ray Porter – was your favorite?

Any character that is NOT female. I reeeeally don't like when a narrator tries to shape his/her voice to fit the opposite sex. Bugs me. A LOT. Just read in your natural voice, Ray. Loved your reading of The Martian. When you read the males - and looking you up led me to this series. Just read in your voice without trying to sound like a female. Makes me rather want to stab myself in the face with a fork...

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

No

Any additional comments?

Yes.

Character development is fair. Not brilliant, but fair. I did find some of the decision making ridiculous. The mother, Heather, is EXTREMELY annoying and an absolutely ridiculously ghastly decision maker. Her decision making is sooooo awful that she is not at all credible as a character. I just cannot believe such a character exists... and I wished I could skip through the parts that featured her. Adding Ray Porter's trying to make a female voice for her and... hooboy. She was a character I really wanted to see disappear.

Too many times characters make awful decisions - and some of the dialogue is uncomfortably um... well, stupid. Best word I can think of. There is far too much dialogue for me that just doesn't seem natural.

That said, I enjoyed the story. Some surprising twists in the story - but mostly what you expect from aliens-invade-and-gain-control fare.

I saw a comment here about how it "turns toward religion." What?!?!??? No, it doesn't. It talks about religion - about how the aliens used religion to control us and shape our behaviors. I despise faith-based stories and I certainly would toss the book and get my money back if it went that way.

It does have silly conspiracy theories - Knights Templar, etc. But it's fiction. So I'll give it a pass on those silly things - and bringing Mormons into it, but NOT proselytizing. I have heard Mormons think we are from extra terrestrials - don't know if they do. But that's a part of it. If that is "bringing religion into it," well, the person who posted that didn't complete the book.

Overall, entertaining fluff with a narrator who was a bit better than the authors. Except for his girl voices. I think he should give up on that.

What happens to Ray Porter?

Why oh why would you get rid of Ray after 3 books???? This is the last book with Ray as far as I k ow Bc I stopped 2 chapters in to book 4. Now, going to have to psyche myself up to listen. 😭😭😭

Long on characters , short on story.

The story was quickly pushed forward in moments very far between. This is the 3rd in the series, and as the others, it does not hold on its own. I wanted to read the next one, not because it is good but for it to actually be somewhat of a complete story. Instead it seems manipulated to make you need the next one, hoping for any reasonable satisfaction. Too much time spent on characters familiarity who had too little to do with the story. This adds up to a story stretched and then periodically condensed in order to actually have something of matter, happen. For me it lacks a natural rythmn and seems planned and mechanically geared to sales over substance. As usual, Ray Porter was great. I like the story, I just don't feel it is well handled. Kudos again to Ray Porter, he made it worth listening to. I feel like saying, please appeal to me as an author I want to read because you write great stories really well, rather than make me feel I have to buy the next book because I am left not knowing anything.