Eden

A Sci-Fi Novella

By: Martin Roy Hill

Narrated by: Tim Danko

Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

If this is paradise, how bad could hell be?

A sandstorm uncovers a long buried secret in the Iraqi desert, an ancient Sumerian temple dating back at least 6,000 years to the beginning of civilization. An American army patrol sent to investigate the ruins is trapped inside the temple's eroded walls, first by an insurgent ambush and then by another, even more powerful sandstorm. When an enemy mortar shell blasts an opening into a hidden burial chamber, Captain Adam Cadman and his soldiers take refuge deep in the ruins. What they find hidden inside threatens to destroy every belief about the beginnings of mankind - as well as modern society as we know it.

"An out-of-the box blend of scifi, thriller, and military encounters!" (Midwest Book Review)

©2014 Martin Roy Hill (P)2021 Martin Roy Hill

I really enjoyed it.

I think this could have easily been expanded into a full novel. The plot could have moved more.

The narration had some audio issues.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I wanted more.

A Creation Myth What If

I loved this story about an American recon team that stumbles upon ancient ruins while on patrol in the area of Iran believed to have been the location of the biblical Eden. What they find will change their live and could change the world forever, but do they dare to tell the tale?
Interesting characters and a very well told story that will challenge you to think about what you believe.

A quick read. Kept me glued to my seat.

From the beginning this story is captivating. I love stories that hold my interested rom the very first page, and Hill’s novel does just that. I find the Sumerian mythologies fascinating and have read other writings about this topic in the past. This is one of those books that made me take a moment just to see the whole picture that the Author has created. The vivid descriptions of relics and the conspiracy inspired in this story made me smile. I love stories that tease my brain and test my knowledge. I know I’ve said it before, but when I have to stop and look up something you’ve pretty much hooked me. There were quite a few examples in this short story. From new words to Bible verses. I learned and I like that a lot.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Short and not so sweet

Conceptually, while this offering may not be totally unique, it captures some interesting concepts and ties a variety of them together in one short package. Unfortunately, it has some production problems in the audio ( significant background noise and volume variability ) that do take away from the story. Tim Danko is somewhat over the top in the read, and overall this offering strays close to the YA category.
I did enjoy some of it, but am glad I received this offering for free from audiobookboom rather than spend a credit. Nominally recommended.

Entertaining and enjoyable

Eden, my first read/listen from author Martin Roy Hill, entertaining & enjoyable. “I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Tim Danko's narration made the book flow smoothly & quickly. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

"This is Eden"

Captain Adam Cadman, archaeologist and currently US army historian in Iraq, was being escorted to an area where buildings, possibly a village, had been uncovered by a sand storm, when their convoy was suddenly under attack. He and the three survivors take shelter in what they now knew to be ancient Sumerian ruins, their communications not working and the looming sand storm making rescue impossible. An enemy missile pierces an hole into the wall of an otherwise in tact chamber and the four scramble in, only to meet a tall and beautiful woman with a fabulous tale to tell...

Based on the Von Daniken theories of an alien race which, several thousand years ago, visited our planet and assisted in the early development of human life, the story is an engaging, and informative, read, bringing together action, war, fear, religion, earth locational oddities, space travel, emotional reaction and even a touch of humour into this three hour novella. Read by Tom Danko with expertise and good timing which makes this an easy listen, this is an enjoyable, possibly thought provoking, story.

My thanks to the rights holder of Eden, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. It is well worth a read, and for those of the 'We are not alone' persuasion, and have not yet done so, a look back at the Von Daniken ideas of the mid 1900s is also interesting

who are we?

I received a free code for this book.
A short listen, but well worth it. Highly recommend it.

Ancient aliens with military backdrop

While this short story doesn't break new ground, it does accomplish good storytelling with only a few tropes. In the same vein as Stargate, Bob Mayer's Area 51 series, and other "ancient alien gods" stories; the story combines a military backdrop to the deeper story. The military story is there to trap our characters but seems to come and go to break up the expositional part of the book. As far as the exposition, it was a good change of pace not to have a villain's speech or the main character translating everything perfectly from Sumerian text (although that does take place a little). As for the tropes, there's the historian that seems to be able to read ancient languages and, of course, the religious guy that has to go nuts. The story does falter in one area and that's the "humans are bad because they fight" even though the story is about "one god imprisons another one because they were fighting but now they're mad we're fighting". The stories' impact takes the "get in and get out" ending and it would have been interesting to see the main character become a semi-cult leader or fringe historian.

Overall, an enjoyable short story the moves the story along with the "ancient aliens" storyline. Final Grade - B

Really enjoyable

I thoroughly enjoyed this short, it was very clever and really thought provoking! A good listen