Relics of Utopia

Starship Gilead, Book 1

By: John Graves

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

The war for the future began in the past....

Windham Manthus is the captain of the Starship Gilead, the most powerful vessel in the sector. He’s battled space pirates and territorial warlords in order to protect his people and his ship. His reputation as a laudable commander has spread across the galaxy, but rumors have begun that he’s losing his edge.

When a sect of fanatical cultists murder an entire colony, in order to resurrect an ancient alien god, Windham’s skill is put to the test. He and his crew must battle an armada of enemy gunships and hostile space marines in order to protect Gilead and save the galaxy from total destruction.

Faced with a seemingly unwinnable battle, Windham must see how far he’s willing to go to protect his ship. Will he make a deal with his enemy? Is he willing to sacrifice his own daughter?

Don’t miss this epic new series. Starship Gilead is a space opera that’s perfect for fans of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Warhammer 40,000.

©2022 Aethon Books (P)2022 Aethon Audio

Great for Star Trek fans!

I really enjoyed this book. I am a big Star Trek fan and I felt like this could have been a story arc from the show. The world building was great. Life on these massive starships would never be dull! Combat, family issues, love, grief, betrayal. This is a fun ride. Excellent narration that really brought the characters to life.

Fun sci-fi read

Thoroughly enjoyed this story and the narration! It sits very well within its genre with its influences and inspirations shining through. This is for sure a fun little sci-fi read to fall into!

Something different in the realm of Sci-Fi/Fantasy

In his book Starship Gilead - Relics of Utopia, Graves has created a unique universe. I feel like he wrote this book for fans of RPGs such as D&D, Warhammer 40,000, and Pathfinder while mashing them together with lovers of shows or movies like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Game of Thrones. It was a great read, and Mr. Graves's writing reminded me of books like Ready Player One with hints of Stephen King's writing style throughout. Descriptive and thoughtful storytelling IMO. I picked up the audiobook to listen to while I drove around running errands or cooking dinner. I highly suggest this audiobook if you are looking for something new and different in the genre! I've already ordered book 2!!

Outstanding

This is my second time listening to this book and it was even better the second time!

Interesting plot on shaky foundations

This story ticks a lot of boxes for fans of the genre. Some of those ticks are similar to mainstays in Star Trek or other classics. Such as, "Shields at 85!" or "Take us to warp!" But, unlike those classics, this one has a foundation rooted in religious beliefs such as Angels and God. This is a weird mashup of concepts that feels jarring in this setting. It doesnt help that the inclusion of such in the book feels tacked on instead of integral to the plot. The events can still continue on as written without this nonsense weighing it down.