The Silver Ships

Smart protagonists!

Fun read. It was really nice to see people making smart decisions instead of doing stupid stuff to create additional drama in the narrative.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Good, old fashioned SF reminiscent of Heinlein

There's a simplicity and an innocence to the books in this series that reminds me of "Golden Age" science fiction. If you're looking for highly complex plotting, deep and intriguing character flaws, or science based explanations for things you're going to be disappointed. This a series for fun. The good guys are very very good. The bad guys are clearly defined. The technology is interestingly imaginative and entirely unexplained. It's a fun, predictable, good guys win kind of story.

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

I wanted to like it, but the agenda ruined it

Regardless of whether or not I agree, I hate having anyone's political agenda thrown in my face so hard that I can't just ignore it. The Silver Ships has the hallmarks of being a very interesting, classically styled sci-fi story. But the author is unfortunately very heavy handed in his application of his political agenda throughout the book. He accomplishes it by suddenly demonstrating his agenda so heavily that one cannot simply ignore it and move on. And when he wraps up one agenda item, he saturates the story with another. Then he returns to the interesting story, pulls you into full attention, then hits you with more politically motivated content in such a way as, again, you can't just ignore it and move on.

I could make a list of the author's ideas that make up his agenda, but that doesn't make my point. I listen to books like this to escape society's current problems for a little while, not to be reminded of them by being repeatedly slapped in the face with them.

This could and should have been a enjoyable and interesting book. But in the end, I just couldn't wait for it to end so I could move onto something that actually allows me the fun and escape I'm looking for.

As for the narration, Grover Gardner delivers an admirable performance. He maintains a good pace and does a good job of fleshing out the characters. I probably would have skipped the last third of the book if his work didn't keep me going.

27 of 33 people found this review helpful

Good story, narration: wish for a little more surprise

Good story: humor, flow and plot; characterization and development. Wish there were a little more surprise in the plot and main character slightly less "superman."
Only a little though.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Flawed but worth the time

Any additional comments?

The book has a great start. The world the author creates is intriguing and pulls you in. I was reminded of Jack Vance and some of his books in which long separated humans lineages evolved into radically different forms. The author introduces two very different humans lineages with a set up for at least four more. That's the good. The bad, the flaws are numerous and take attention from enjoying the story. One is that the main characters have no flaws. None. They like each other, cooperate completely and always have a good time as they all happily work together to overcome the story hurdles. The two lineages have a fun time discovering the good points of each others wonderful cultures. Two the author has a two dimensional view of today's politics which he can't help but impose on his story and it feels heavy handed. Big government is best and is best suited to run society and the economy. Capitalism is bad, very bad and shameful. Conservatives it follows are very bad too and he makes sure that's understood by the reader. The good characters by the end of the book seem to be plodding methodically towards plot points.

Having pointed out those two negatives I admit that I liked the set up enough that I will probably listen to the next book in the series.

12 of 15 people found this review helpful

Engaging Sci-Fi Tale

I have been trying to expand the number of authors of science fiction I read. I noted that Grover Gardner narrated this book. I have enjoyed books he has narrated so I decided to give the book a try.

Our protagonist is Alex Racine a tug boat captain in a mining colony. While heading home to New Terran, Alex discovers a derelict ship. He acquires it and boards the ship to discover the AI (artificial intelligence) on the ship is still active and it asks him to help restore the ship. When Alex gets the power back on line, he discovers the crew and passengers in stasis. Apparently, they have been in stasis for 70 years. It turns out they came from Earth also but are more advanced than the people from New Terran. They work together to restore technology and the ship while preparing to fight the aliens that destroyed the ship.

The book is well written but there is little action. I get the feeling the author is building the background for the series. I was interested enough that I will try the next book in the series. I did enjoy the book and the great voice of Grover Gardner.

The book is ten and a half hours long. Grover Gardner does an excellent job narrating the book. Gardner is an award-winning audiobook narrator.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Engaging

Performance was well done and had just the right development. A rounded perspective of the characters decision making really helped this book breath.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Campy, but fun!

I love this series, so far. The characters are interesting and their universe is exciting and promising for what comes next. It jas become a must purchase for me.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Buildup for a Promising Series

I thought this was a good start for what will be an interesting series. This book seemed to be more of the buildup for the books to come.

The book takes place in a universe where colony ships from earth were launched thousands of years ago. It is not known what exactly happened to all of the ships, only that the inhabitants of the New Terran system are the descendants of the passengers of one of those ships.

The book centers around a young mining captain named Alex. A brilliant mathematician, Alex was the first to calculate a complex equation that allowed for the flinging of ice asteroids on a trajectory that made them easier to retrieve, making him a minor celebrity and quite wealthy for someone so young.

On a trip home Alex detects what turns out to be a derelict alien ship on a ballistic course through the system. When he captures and boards the ship, he discovers that the ships AI is still active, and he helps to restore the ship’s power and primary systems. Eventually, the AI awakens the surviving crew and passengers who have been in stasis sleep for over 70 years.

Upon awakening the crew, Alex learns that the ship belongs to the human descendants of another earth colony ship. Alex and his fellow New Terrans also learn that the ship was attacked by an unknown alien ship which resulted in its uncontrolled, 70 year long voyage to the New Terran system.
An alliance is formed between the ship’s survivors (hundreds of years more advanced) and the New Terrans. The ship’s AI and survivors will provide the New Terrans with their advanced technology in exchange for the repair and arming of their passenger ship, and help in fighting the new alien menace.

Most of the book is the typical first-contact dialogue, along with discussion and troubleshooting how they will fight the technologically advanced alien menace. There is one minor skirmish at the end of the book, however. I think that this was more of the buildup for the rest of the series. I’m hoping to see a few more space battles and action in the next books, though this book wasn’t at all boring.

I give this one a good 4.5 stars. Narration was solid as well. I think this is a promising start to a new series, and am hoping for even more in the next books.

23 of 33 people found this review helpful

Unrealized Potential

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Nope. Jucha is more interested in pushing his socialist propaganda than telling a good story. He makes clear his views on climate change and gun control from the beginning. The New Terran society seems to be this would be socialist utopia if not for the evil capitalist corporations. Jucha pushes this idea that the government knows best and capitalist ideals are the makings of oppression. There is very little action. The entire book consists of promoting his leftist agenda and planning. Poor planning at that. There is very little thought put into goals of the characters.

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

Grover Gardner is a fantastic narrator. He brings life to an otherwise dead book.

Any additional comments?

A free spirit freighter captain stumbles on a derelict ship. He investigates and finds a shot up ship with an AI and a few sissies from a society of sissies and pansies. The whole socialist Utopian planet of New Terra decides to help. They rebuild the ship in exchange for a bunch of new technology. The plot promotes the benevolence of our Big Brother the government and the evils of capitalist thinking. The nemesis for the majority of the book is not the aliens of the silver ships but corporations looking to make a buck and also screw up the planet. Oh and at the end, the ridiculous excuse for a fighting force destroys a single alien ship. Just one. A little one.

41 of 61 people found this review helpful