Marooned: Space Opera

Arcadia's Children

By: Andrew Williams

Narrated by: Mike Cole

Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Marooned is a prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series.

Bee Bee is the narrator: "My name is Bee Bee; well, at least that’s what everyone calls me. The last year has been tough, and I’ve found myself on the Empress of Incognita, traveling through the stars toward a new life with my dad and stepmum. Or at least that’s what should be happening. When the Empress hits a mine in deep space, things go from bad to worse. Not only are some of the other passengers a threat; once we leave the Empress and end up on ‘Arcadia’, we realize that its occupants, the Great Ones, are going to make life extremely difficult for all of us. Find out how we get marooned!"

©2022 Andrew R Williams (P)2023 Andrew R Williams

Intriguing

Marooned by Andrew R Williams is the prequel to Arcadia's Children series. Now we get to the part where and how everything started - Arcadia. It's a well written story with a lots of twists, turns and suspense with a good measure of intrigue thrown into the mix. I love the character and world building in this novel, just like the author's other books from this series.

Meet Bee Bee, a teenager who asks a lot of questions and the story revolves around how he grows up fast and why. If you love a good sci-fi or a good story, this is a must read.

The series of Arcadia makes even more sense, now that we have the prequel!

A Riveting Space Odyssey Unfolds in 'Marooned'!

Marooned, a captivating prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series, introduces us to the resilient narrator, Bee Bee. The narrative kicks off with a promising interstellar journey on the Empress of Incognita, but when disaster strikes, Bee Bee's world takes a thrilling turn. The plot intricately weaves suspense, danger, and unexpected alliances, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. The arrival on 'Arcadia' brings new challenges from the enigmatic Great Ones, setting the stage for an enthralling space adventure.

Marooned' Sets the Stage for Epic Escapades!

Marooned sets the stage for epic escapades as Bee Bee and fellow passengers find themselves stranded in the mysterious realm of 'Arcadia'. The tension builds relentlessly from the moment the Empress of Incognita hits a mine, creating a nail-biting atmosphere that propels the narrative forward. With each twist and turn, the characters' fates become more intricately entwined, promising readers an enthralling ride through a cosmos filled with peril and intrigue.

An exciting and entertaining sci-fi adventure!

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

MAROONED by Andrew R. Williams is a prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series. It’s a brilliantly written and richly descriptive novel with skillfully drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted sci-fi action and adventure that had me captivated from the start. Skillfully constructed, this exciting and energetic sci-fi had me turning the pages from beginning to end.

To summarize the synopsis: I'm 15, almost 16, and my name is Bee Bee, or at least that's what everyone calls me. After a difficult year, I've found myself on the Empress of Incognita, sailing through the stars to a new life with my father and stepmother. At the very least, that's how it should be. Things only become worse when the Empress collides with a deep-space mine. Not only are some of the other passengers dangerous, but as we leave the Empress and get to 'Arcadia,' we realize that the Great Ones that live there will make life incredibly difficult for us all. Read on to learn how we became stranded!

MAROONED is well-written and exactly the right length to give you excitement with many surprises along the way, and then it's over, leaving you feeling good but eagerly anticipating more. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

A Riveting Space Adventure with a Twist

This is a remarkable space opera that seamlessly weaves together elements of adventure, mystery, and suspense. The story introduces us to a young protagonist facing the challenges of a new life aboard the Empress of Incognita, alongside her dad and stepmother. The initial setup draws you into the world of space travel and sets the stage for an extraordinary journey.

A fast-paced plot well narrated.

The recent addition of the Arcadia series was marked with these human behaviours, but only unity and one young man’s ability to listen could save the day.
Being in space on a ship would have been perfect for most people. But for Bee Bee and his fellow travelers, it was an entirely different thing.
Bee Bee (James) Kinfrank was a typical teenager that asked a lot of questions, to everyone’s chagrin. Left disfigured after a gruesome accident, the scare in his face didn’t make him a favourite. But this was also the reason for him to connect with people differently, which made him more acceptable, even a leader in his ‘tribe’.
As an oracle, he took to his role like it was second nature. It raised his status in the community. It did not make him very popular at first, but as he began to prove himself, People started to accept him and the value he brings to the community.
His father was a genuine piece of work which showed his true colors at the end. And Mary was his only support when things really became difficult, even though she was only his step mum.
To be stuck into deep space without knowing if you would be saved created all sorts of problems and soon to be sixteen-year-old Bee Bee had to grow up.
Not only were there enemies in the wormholes, but there were enemies inside. And he had to listen to the inner voice for guidance.
Lack of space, oxygen and food added to the tension as the depilated ship tried to stay on course.
This is the prequel to the Arcadia series and because I have read most of it, I struggled to understand where the new characters fit into the bigger plotline. But in the author’s typical writing style, it became clear, and it was worth the read. It gives the reader a better understanding of where it had all begun.
Chas Foony knew too much but was a good informant/friend to Bee Bee. Then there was the Whiston family—the bain in everyone’s life that caused havoc wherever he and his gang of misfits went. Charl Whyler was thrusted into a leadership position and way over his head. Mary became Bee Bee’s support and protector while he became her purpose for being in the ‘tribe’.
The fast-paced plot quickly takes you from one suspenseful scenario to another while the group tries to survive. First on the ship, then on the new planet, where more twists made for adventurous moments.
When an alien appeared on the ship, killing everyone on its path, it left Bee Bee a strange message. This was where the story escalated and became very interesting. With flashbacks from Mars and his mother’s death, you could sense the building tension.
Especially the secretive ‘Great Ones’ no one knew about except for Bee Bee and his dreams. A force that added a layer of tension to the entire plot.
“The Great Ones were sent to this planet for security reasons. This planet is far from the rest of our culture. Under our laws, execution is not possible. So sending them here seemed a sensible solution; they were banished to repent for their war crimes.”
These parasite creatures or beings controlled the new planet, and the survival game has stepped up a notched. Adding more drama, mystery, and suspense. Especially when Suzanne Flyfield stepped into the picture.
Except for a few grammar problems, this was a good read that every science fiction reader would enjoy. The story touches on primal behaviours and how humans would cope when put in a strange environment where the only aim is to survive. Not only as a human, but as a race.
The character of Bee Bee became the centre of their survival, which made this a good plotline. In the end, his own struggles and how he had to overcome them were woven into the many layers and a race was saved.
Since this was an audible book, I enjoyed the narrative. The different characters were beautifully portrayed through the voice of the narrator, making this story so endearing and easy to follow. A great edition to the enfolding series.