Drone Ensign

A Sci-Fi LitRPG Story (Drone Rising, Book 1)

By: Kyle Johnson

Narrated by: Stephanie Nemeth Parker

Humanity has moved far beyond the cradle of Earth, into the stars themselves. In the Collective, energy is limitless, travel and communication are nearly instantaneous, and every person's basic needs are fully met. Citizens are free to choose the lives they wish to lead, and the omnipresent Overnet tracks their strength, power, and accomplishments. Even death has been vanquished, and Citizens are effectively immortal, reborn anew after each death.

Benning Kidd is a Drone, the lowest class of humanity. She exists without memory, purpose, or more than the most basic awareness of herself and the world around her. An accident changes all that, and Benning becomes a Citizen of the Collective, the first Drone to do so in history. She is uniquely talented and unscrupulously driven, choosing a path of battle and glory that will take her from arena to arena and out among the stars themselves. Benning's existence, though, is a threat to those in power, and forces move against her from the moment she steps out of the respawn chamber. As a starship officer, she's sworn to serve her new captain, but he might not be serving her in turn. She faces threats from without and within, and the only person she can trust is her personal AI, who guides her through the Collective.

Her only chance of survival is to be stronger, smarter, and more cunning than those who stand in her way. Her path is unique, and only she can forge it. She is the Drone Ensign, warrior and starship officer, and none will stop her from fulfilling her desires!

©2021 Kyle Johnson (P)2021 Kyle Johnson

Insights into humanity

Now with immortality !

A good listen, with an engaging and inventive story line. MC draws you in slowly then bang your hooked. No bouncing around timelines or POV Just straight progression

The narrator does a superb job and is easy on the ears.

Interesting world, unlikable MC

I rarely DNF books. The ones I drop in the last fifth or so can be counted on one hand. I just couldn't finish this one.

It starts well. Very well. The world building is good, and the narrator does a fine job. Unfortunately, the MC becomes entirely unsympathetic about halfway through the book. Her worldview can be summed up as, "It doesn't matter who I hurt out of self-interest, as long as I don't enjoy it."

If you like despicable MCs, enjoy. Otherwise, expect to be disappointed.

I really like this type of story.

I overall enjoyed the entire thing. space-stering the battles, the level up type RPG feel to it. it's really good story.

Sociopath or Psychopath?

I think I would put Benning Kidd in the psychopath camp. She is not emotional the way is sociopath is. Benning is definitely cold, calculating, has no conscience and doesn't form any type of emotional attachments to others. She finds people useful or not useful, and if they aren't useful to her she has no problem killing them.

The reality is, for the story, it creates a character that has adventure happening all the time. While not particularly likable, the people she is defeating aren't any better. If people leave her alone she doesn't bother them. But if they cross her she will retaliate with brutal force. Folks receive a lot of just desserts.

I really liked the story. It was well written and the action just kept coming. I liked the narrator and I have purchased the second book to give it a try. I am writing a review because I can see that there aren't that many reviews for this book and I would like to see it get more notoriety and have a wider audience. Highly recommend.

Yes! Space Opera LitRPG

I've been so excited for this release. Actually watching for it for quite some time wondering when it would come out on audio. The voice acting was stellar, the writing solid, and a great value. Highly recommend.