• Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

  • By: Martin Wilsey
  • Narrated by: Andrew Tell
  • Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (239 ratings)

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Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)  By  cover art

Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

By: Martin Wilsey
Narrated by: Andrew Tell
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Publisher's summary

Barcus is a working stiff looking for a good paycheck. When the Ventura and its crew enter orbit for a scheduled planet survey, the ship activates an automated defense system protecting the planet. Although the Ventura is destroyed in the attack, Barcus alone survives the harrowing fall to the remote planet surface. He struggles to remain alive and sane, and to discover why everyone he knew and loved on the Ventura was deliberately murdered.

Swinging between despair and fury, Barcus discovers that for every answer he obtains, there are more questions raised. Barcus is assisted by the Emergency Module, Em, his most useful tool. It is an artificial intelligence system contained in an all-terrain vehicle specifically designed to help him survive. Barcus soon finds himself in the middle of a planetary genocide of the local native population. He is unable to stand passively by as more people die, even if they are long lost colonists who fear "the Man from Earth" like children fear the monster under their bed.

Will Barcus ever find his way home? Will he find out who is responsible? Will his rage just burn this world down? Or will he find his soul in the eyes of a starving, frightened woman?

©2015 Martin Wilsey (P)2015 Martin Wilsey

What listeners say about Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Advanced technology indistinguishable from magic

Martin Wilsey's Still Falling: Solstice 31 Saga is a sci-fi variant of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, although by medieval standards, the Middle Ages were somewhat enlightened. A survey ship, on an undescribed mission to an inhabited planet is destroyed immediately upon entering orbit. The lone survivor, Barkus with the aid of an advanced, and heavily modified shuttle AI must survive and unravel the mystery of the planet where the culture is based around a high priesthood of "keepers" who control all the technology, which the rest of the population regards as magic and women are regarded as property, while most men are regarded as slaves.

The sci-fi elements are mostly confined to the AI variety. Spaceflight is feasible, but plays a minimal role. Implants and sophisticated medical technology is also on prominent display. A unique angle for the tale is that each chapter opens with a brief excerpt from a future investigation report that alludes to a judicial proceeding and sheds some insight into the current action. Something bad has subsequently occurred, but whether this involves a planet colonization gone wrong or some other event is unclear. Exactly what the survey ship was supposed to be doing is never outlined. Watching Barkus deliberately attempt to reset the planet's civilization is the main draw for the tale.

The narration is quite good, especially with the transition from human to AI.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A unique story.

This is an original story that is very creative.It has a good plot with characters you care about.

The performance by the Narrator is the key it is the glue that keeps you attached to this interesting story.




This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Space Man Vs. Medieval Planet

When the Ventura enters the orbit of the planet Baytirus it is immediately destroyed by the planet's defense systems. The sole survivor (that we know of) is Barcus, and together with EM (his modified Emergency Module and the most creepy human-like AI ever with its own agenda) he must survive on a planet that mostly resembles the middle ages. He also discovers that many villages are being attacked with no one spared and he decides to intervene while trying to survive on the planet (since he has some pretty strong robotic AI controlled 'friends' along with him which prove very useful).

The story started off great and was very interesting but then its pacing slowed down considerably and I felt that I was showered with details that really don't impact the greater story much (or at all) and while these details do allow for a better imagining of the scenario I found them to be mostly distracting (since not much is going on during these rather tedious descriptions).
Halfway through the novel, the story picks up again and proper pacing returns.
Every chapter is preceded by a short investigation report of the historical events that occurred during the story, I really loved those little tidbits of information and I hope these will be kept for the subsequent novels.

The narration of Andrew Tell is excellent, his performance is spot on and I felt I was listening to more of an Audio Drama at times. His voice and words are crystal clear (even when using various accents for the various characters) and it was a joy to listen to.

This audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good start to the series

This was a long and enjoyable listen with lots of action. There was quite a bit of graphic violence and descriptions of the atrocities done to dissidents and women so if that sort of thing bothers you, then you should probably pass on this one. The main character is driven to end the atrocities and is assisted by his AI unit who takes on a life of her own and appears to have her own hidden agenda. There is a narrative overlay that I didn't understand at first. It is snippets of a report done sometime in the distant future pertaining to the happenings on the planet and the main characters actions. . Something really bad is coming and he apparently was blamed for it. The story ends abruptly in a cliff hanger.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best stories I have heard

Would you listen to Still Falling again? Why?

Most likely I would

What was one of the most memorable moments of Still Falling?

The fourth day off

What does Andrew Tell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotion and depth

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

I would if I could

Any additional comments?

Looking forward to part 2

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story

I think I might put the purchase of this book on my expense Report since I worked late several days because I couldn't stop listening.

well worth the credit and I'm wanting another book.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Nothing at stake in this book

I bought this book because the reviews were so positive and compared it favorably to The Martian, which I loved. However, I couldn't disagree more! Everything happens as if by magic with supposed advanced technology. There's an almost omniscient power at work so I never had any doubt that the main characters would survive or even be in jeopardy for more than a minute. I listened to the entire book mostly because I was too lazy to look for a different book and narrator was really good at keeping me engaged and hoping that something interesting might happen, but it never did. I guess the author is saving that for books 2 or 3.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Instructive

If my space ship is shot down over a planet where life is similar to medieval Earth, I will find this book invaluable as a survival guide. Having an almost omniscient AI and some trusty high tech weapons would also prove handy.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Still Falling

Any additional comments?

Excellent story and very clear audiobook Kept me entertained all the way through.. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

This audiobook was provided at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

No ending

Any additional comments?

The story line is good all the way up to the end. Oh did I say end??? There is no ending to this book, it just stops. It is like the author just gave up on the story. So if you looking for a happy ending don't look for it in this book.

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