The Cordova Vector

By: C.Steven Manley

Narrated by: Michael Norman Johnson

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

No good deed goes unpunished.

That’s the one thing Brace Cordova is convinced of when he’s released from a five-year stretch in a military prison. He figures the best he can do is spend the rest of his days as a freighter pilot and vicariously live out his dream of a Commonwealth Fleet career through his cousin, Commander Letessa Cordova. 

His plans unravel when he's accosted by gangsters, rescued by smugglers, and swept up in the search for an ancient Earth relic. With a vengeful crime lord and a Commonwealth Fleet gunship both hot on his heels, Brace soon realizes he might not live long enough to ever get a taste of the quiet life. 

The Cordova Vector is audiobook one in the Brace Cordova space opera series. It's an action-packed science-fiction adventure filled with diverse alien races, ruthless criminals, dedicated soldiers, and millennia-old mysteries. If you like good, old-fashioned space adventure, then you'll love C.Steven Manley's The Cordova Vector.  

Grab your copy and get on board today!

©2016 C.Steven Manley (P)2018 C.Steven Manley

Fun Space Adventure Odyssey

I am avid fan of sci-fi and this was my first time listening to a book by C. Manley. This is a fun and exciting space adventure/odyssey. The characters are fully developed and is the plot. The story had me rooting for the main character, Brace Cordova, and the supporting characters from the start. The book picks up from the beginning. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves space odyssey and sci-fi in general. I think its an appropriate balance between science and fantasy. I was drawn to the universe that the author created. The narrator takes you along the space adventure. The narrator did a fantastic job with all of the character voices and the use of emotions were appropriate especially with one scene! He definitely nailed all the unique/alien characters voices, loved Vorz's voice. Looking forward to listening to the sequel! Highly recommend it! Buy it!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

An exciting Sci-Fi novel!

Great storyline.
Story went from situations to situations without having to make a quantum leap that left listeners wondering “how did that happen?” Narration was excellent and easy to follow.
I recommend this story to 15yrs and older due to violent situations used to maintain good form to storyline.
A sequel is definitely needed!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

An Epic Pirate Space Adventure

The Cordova Vector is and adventure of a lifetime, and one of the most enjoyable science fiction novels that I have ever read. Here are some of my reasons:
The characters are masterfully portrayed. They can be unique, complex, and witty. But I loved them because above all else, they were real. The way C.Steven Manley can make you care for and understand even aliens is a testament to his talent.
The storytelling is fun and engaging and the story has everything you could want in a book: suspense, humor, tragedy, romance, devotion, betrayal, and action. All of these are blended together to tell an exciting and gripping tale.
If you like a story of pirates, and smugglers on an adventure to discover new worlds and ancient secrets, than this book is for you.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for and honest review.
Morality rating- the book contains sexuality, including off scene sex, violence, and drugs.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I. Loved. This. Book.

There are few things better than a good sci-fi adventure. I tip my imaginary hat to all involved with this one. Man, this book was good.

The narrator was brilliant!!!! I love a snarky main character and 'Brace Cordova' was performed to perfection. As good as the narration is though, it was the story that really takes front and center. I. Loved. This. Book.

Brace finds himself on a mission that may or may not get him sent back to prison. This story is told from Brace's point of view (for the most part) so I really like when he gave us a bit of forewarning about things to come. It was delivered with a wink and a shrug (again, kudos to the narrator). The dialogue in this book is pretty special too. I loved the interplay between the crew!

If I could, I would get in line right now for book two!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good Book

This one started off a little slow to me, if i have to be honest. but most of them do, it picked up. I found myself laying in bed not wanting to sleep until the end of the book. looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in this series.

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

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great SciFi, but not quite as good as author's UF.

I did NOT receive this book for free. I was offered it back in November, but passed on it since I though the Leonine character in the sample sounded over the top. Instead I bought this book several months later. Why? I was offered another work by this author (Master of Hounds), a Urban Fantasy that I really though would be too dark to enjoy. Instead, it was every bit as good as The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles. After finishing it I went in search for more by the author on Audible and realized I had passed this gem up.

The over the top Leonine? He was over the top because he was supposed to be over the top and he was not the norm for the characters of the book. It's a great adventure in space with a likeable hero. The narration was excellent throughout. Not quite as good a book as Master of Hounds, but I think this is an earlier work and it's still a great listen!

Sometimes you pass up a good thing for free and have to pay to enjoy it later, but it's worth it :)

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Quite the adventure.

Seeming to take inspiration from everything from Firefly, to Star Wars, to even the 1998 Lost in Space movie, C. Steven Manley's Cordova Vector is one heck of a wild ride. After spending 5 years in prison Brace Cordova isn't even out a day before trouble finds him and he's running for his life. With an interesting story, a wild cast, and plenty of action, if you enjoy space adventures you're likely to enjoy The Cordova Vector. Definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next to Brace and his crew.

I received a copy of this audio title in exchange for an unbiased review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Solid Space Opera

I agree with the reviews I perused prior to purchase, this is well worth the credit.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Awesome Read!

Read over 3 days, enjoyed all the characters and the in-depth terminology with detailed explanations. I can’t wait to purchase and read the next in the series to see what Brace has to offer.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

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

This book is mostly narrated from the main character's point of view. Brace's plan, after being released from prison, is to find a way to pilot a spacecraft in peace. He finds anything but peace in the process. The story begins a little slowly but quickly gains pace as trouble seems to orbit his very existence (despite his initially earnest attempts to keep his head down). From slavers and bounty hunters to aliens and mysterious objects from many millenia ago, this book has a lot crammed into it while keeping a good pace throughout. I recommend giving this book a try.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Some days you eat the bear. Some days the bear ...

....eats you!
Lesley Earl Cordova ('Just call.me Brace'), a pilot just released from five years imprisonment and stripped of his military crudentials, is rescued from a fight on his first day of freedom by the enigmatic captain of a pirate ship in need of a second pilot. Several of the crew members of the Phoenix are less than welcoming, and Brace, still dressed in his bright yellow prison garb and determined not to go back, would have preferred not to be involved with pirates. But with little cash, no immediate job prospects, a love of flying and someone out to get him, his choices were limited; so he joins the ship's crew on a probationary (for both sides) period, little knowing at the time that the first job involves going into the Black in search of a 9000 years old lost vessel being sought by the archaeology client, a woman of seemingly limitless funds - and a dream.

Superbly narrated by Michael Norman Johnson, who reads intelligently with good intonation and separate voicing for all of the protagonists, human and alien alike, this is a well written, exciting voyage of discovery, pursuit, battles and first contact in the uncharted areas of space. An excellent melding of narrator and text.

My deep thanks to the rights holder of The Cordova Vector who, following my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me a complimentary copy. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read/listen, the plot holding attention throughout and the characters well developed. Despite being far future based science fiction, there was a real sense of immediacy and reality and great character interaction. A second book, The Cordova Invection, has already been written and I hope that this, too, will soon appear in audio. Recommended to all who enjoy space adventures: this is a really good one.

Well worth a credit!

Great world building, tense action scenes, likeable characters and adrenaline-fuelled space sequences. Looking forward to the next.