TFS Ingenuity

By: Tori L. Harris

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's the year 2277. For 50 years, Earth has received mysterious data transmissions from random locations in deep space. The streams include advanced technology, allowing humans to achieve faster-than-light travel virtually overnight. As we prepare to take our first tentative steps into interstellar space, we know almost nothing about our alien benefactors, and their motivations remain unexplained.

While completing their shakedown cruise, Captain Tom Prescott and the crew of the first Terran Fleet Command starship, TFS Ingenuity, stumble into a first contact situation. They learn that Earth is not the first civilization granted access to the stars before their time - and how this Faustian gift has inevitably led to centuries of interstellar war. Humanity's existence hangs in the balance as a powerful alliance assembles a preemptive military strike, believing it to be their only option to protect themselves...from us. Prescott and his small, initially unarmed starship must serve as our only line of defense. Ingenuity is our only hope.

©2015 Tori L. Harris (P)2016 Podium Publishing

More please

No spoilers here.
The Good: This is an interesting way to look at first contact. TFS ingenuity is an action packed thrill ride. The space battles are not the sole focus of the story like many of the genre. I found the plot twist interesting and the characters fleshed out just enough. I did listen to this book straight through and enjoyed it very much. I am VERY eagerly awaiting the next installment. As always Jeffrey Kafer is an elite narrator. Well done again.
The Bad: Not much really. Just that this is a bit short of a story for my liking. There are many opportunities to expand on events in this story. I would like to have had another couple of hours of story. The cliffhanger at the end upset me as I had more lawn to mow and no sequel to listen to!
All things considered, a very good book.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

TFS Theseus

Loved the story line and the overall book. Waiting for book 2 TFS Theseus. I already have the written copy, hope the see the audible version soon.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good, but Short Buildup for a Continuing Series.

I was impressed with the writing and plot of this book, but it was a little on the short side and obviously meant as the buildup for a series.

The Terran Fleet Ship Ingenuity is the first starship constructed by humanity. It was made possible, in large part, because of the technological knowledge bestowed upon earth by a mysterious alien benefactor race. Little is known about the aliens themselves, but transmissions containing advanced technology and knowledge have been received by earth governments for decades. There has been much speculation as to the motives of this race... Are they really friendly? Why would they give away such advanced knowledge? What do they expect in return?
When a squadron of ships from a different alien race enters the Sol system and is promptly destroyed by a stealth AI probe left by Earth's mysterious benefactors, the remaining survivor tells the Terran Fleet officials how earth is being maneuvered into a proxy war and that their acceptance of the technology is seen by the nearby alliance of alien races as a threat that must be stopped...
Unknown to either party, this is not Earth's first encounter with alien technology. Thanks to previous access to advanced alien tech in addition to that granted to them by the alien benefactor's AI probe, the TFS Ingenuity is only the beginning of Earth's first step onto the galactic playing field.

This was a good overall story, but unless you are planning on continuing with the series, there is little point in listening to this book. There was a lot of filler and backstory for such a short book, and it ends in what is essentially a cliffhanger.
Also, even though I liked it, I found the sudden and rapid development of technology and ships by Earth to be a bit of a reach. Why even launch the unarmed frigate Ingenuity when you have bigger and better warships only weeks from deployment?
That being said, it was still a good book and I will probably continue with what is likely to be a very enjoyable series.
Narration never interfered with the story, which is the mark of a good performance (in my opinion).
This is worth the credit or price if you are planning on continuing with the rest of the series in the future.

25 of 32 people found this review helpful

Great Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't stop listening so I highly recommend it. It's moves along with a quick pace and there's never a dull moment. There are lots of explanations how the science and technology worked that made everything believable.

What other book might you compare TFS Ingenuity to and why?

I would say this book has a unique style all it's own so it's hard to compare it to anything else I've read.

Which scene was your favorite?

The climax was my favorite part of the book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent

5 stars in every possible way, whether content, narrater performance or delivery ... Love it.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

TFS Ingenuity by Tori L. Harris

The story line was way out there and really stretched the imagination. Yet every part seemed credible as if events could easily happen as described. The narration was great with a great inflection in the voice for each person of the story. Female characters were more difficult to recognize at times. Cannot wait for next book in the series.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great Book!! Excellent story. WAY to short. WAIT..

What did you like best about this story?

nicely conceived plot and universe idea. Nicely done

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book but it is way way way too short. Particularly since there is nothing else supporting it. I recommend the author support his books with more titles before releasing a story that just cuts off...literally....mid stream. While I loved it I am very frustrated right now not knowing how long the wait will be or if I will even remember to see if new ones are out.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great Sci-fi space story

This a good space exploration story with a crew you can get to know and identify with. I liked how the author chooses to fully develop a background and motivation for the plot and conflicts that arise. If you are looking for constant space battles that lack reason this is not the book for you. THE NARRATION is great. the NARRATION could be improved if they could add a secondary female narrator for the female characters and perhaps if they tried to emulate the alien voices. I recommend this book both for paperback and audible.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

A absorbing story of mans first steps into space

... which dumps them straight into interstellar politics.

Humanity has been guided in its technological development by an advanced alien AI in a spaceship for some 500 yrs at the point this story picks up. However, it's not for altruistic reasons. The first FTL ship to leave Earth quickly finds out what Humanity is expected to do to pay back the favor.

Everything has a price, and for Humanity the bill is coming due. Does Humanity have the will and the ability to take on the responsibility set before them, and what are the consequences if we do not.

This book tends to the tech and military scifi style, but not excessively. If you have enjoyed Elizabeth Moon's Vatta/Trading in Danger series you will enjoy this series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic

Excellent, enjoyed the book and the pacing of the story. Very well written and captured interactions between people and aliens expertly

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

really enjoyable

Really good listen, narrator was a little deadpan but the mix of real science and physics and a believable story made for an entertaining audio book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ok

Not to bad just took an age to get into it fully, got better then ended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

What happened to the story!

If you like reading/listening to technical manuals, then this is a book for you. I am sure there is a storyline in there somewhere, but it was totally lost. The author made the technical content more important than the story.

I did try to persevere, but gave up in the end. I also found the narration grating at times.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A rollercoaster of a story, magnificent.

What did you like best about this story?

This story does not hang around, it is a fast paced roller coaster of an adventure. However, even though it has a fast pace feel to it, two chapters were dedicated to landing the ship! Your imagination just flies though, almost a perfect introduction to a series I am very much looking forward to the next book.

Have you listened to any of Jeffrey Kafer’s other performances? How does this one compare?

A good narrator, but for some reason I cannot have this in the background. You really had to listen. Is that the narrator? I am not sure. It might be the pace of the book. However I have no hesitation in getting the next one.

Any additional comments?

The only thing I did not like was the way the book ended leaving me literally aghast. "No, surely not already." I suppose when a book leaves you gagging for more you cannot really complain.

Great first book

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

Not read the paper version but very enjoyable and fast moving story

What was one of the most memorable moments of TFS Ingenuity?

The premise of a guardian ship guiding earth to become a buffer state

What about Jeffrey Kafer’s performance did you like?

Excellent as ever

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Humanities velvet slavers

Any additional comments?

I have only the slightest negative they are too short, great energy and great story line but ends abruptly.