Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

By: Martin Wilsey

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

Barcus is a working stiff looking for a good paycheck. When the Ventura and its crew enter orbit for a scheduled planet survey, the ship activates an automated defense system protecting the planet. Although the Ventura is destroyed in the attack, Barcus alone survives the harrowing fall to the remote planet surface. He struggles to remain alive and sane, and to discover why everyone he knew and loved on the Ventura was deliberately murdered.

Swinging between despair and fury, Barcus discovers that for every answer he obtains, there are more questions raised. Barcus is assisted by the Emergency Module, Em, his most useful tool. It is an artificial intelligence system contained in an all-terrain vehicle specifically designed to help him survive. Barcus soon finds himself in the middle of a planetary genocide of the local native population. He is unable to stand passively by as more people die, even if they are long lost colonists who fear "the Man from Earth" like children fear the monster under their bed.

Will Barcus ever find his way home? Will he find out who is responsible? Will his rage just burn this world down? Or will he find his soul in the eyes of a starving, frightened woman?

©2015 Martin Wilsey (P)2015 Martin Wilsey

Instructive

If my space ship is shot down over a planet where life is similar to medieval Earth, I will find this book invaluable as a survival guide. Having an almost omniscient AI and some trusty high tech weapons would also prove handy.

Good People Doing Good Things

Still Falling is the first book in an ongoing series. The book is told in two paths, the main one being the story of Barcus and his exploits on a backwards planet he was stranded on, and the second, which is used to open each chapter, covering an investigation taking place at some time in the future investigating the Solstice 31 incident. I'd have to take off half a point for the story due to the fact that the main story I felt told a very good tale, and ended in a satisfying junction, but the investigation story just stopped. From a story telling perspective, as a reader I find that pretty unforgivable, to have listened to an entire longish novel and have no idea what one particular story thread was actually about. I even rewound and listened to a lot of the chapters again to see if I missed something, but no.

That aside, I did enjoy the story and liked how it was essentially the story of a good man in a bad situation, coming to terms with a new world he is on, and his unfailing journey to make that world a better place, and the hardships on.

The narration was very clear and easy to listen too, and the only reason I had for rewinding was not due to missing something said, but the above mentioned missing something I think the author did not write...

In all an enjoyable listen, and I look forward to the next book. I did get this book as a free review copy, but I'd likely purchase the second book when available, just to find out what happens next.

I Love a Good Colonization Story

Barcus is aboard The Ventura, a deep space survey ship with over 2000 other men and women when it enters the orbit of the planet Baytirus and is immediately shot down. Due to a bit of good luck, or maybe bad, Barcus is in a space suit in a shuttle when the Ventura is attacked and he manages to reach the planet safely. There he activates the Emergency Module AI, or EM, who takes control and formulates a plan to get him to safety. As Barcus learns more about the residents of the planet and the near medieval society they've formed, he finds himself unable to resist helping them.

Sci fi books don't usually end up on my to read list, but I love a good colonization story. This one hit all the right buttons for me, with the added bonus of a medieval setting that seemed like a fantasy book and a page turning puzzle. Those short incident investigation reports at the beginning of each chapter kept me hooked and reading on. The characters are great, Barcus isn't perfect by any means, but he's human and real and has everyone's best interests at heart. Even though the colonization part may be over, I'm invested in these people and I've already picked up the sequel.

The narration was well done, with different voices for each character, and he was really easy to listen to. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

Space Man Vs. Medieval Planet

When the Ventura enters the orbit of the planet Baytirus it is immediately destroyed by the planet's defense systems. The sole survivor (that we know of) is Barcus, and together with EM (his modified Emergency Module and the most creepy human-like AI ever with its own agenda) he must survive on a planet that mostly resembles the middle ages. He also discovers that many villages are being attacked with no one spared and he decides to intervene while trying to survive on the planet (since he has some pretty strong robotic AI controlled 'friends' along with him which prove very useful).

The story started off great and was very interesting but then its pacing slowed down considerably and I felt that I was showered with details that really don't impact the greater story much (or at all) and while these details do allow for a better imagining of the scenario I found them to be mostly distracting (since not much is going on during these rather tedious descriptions).
Halfway through the novel, the story picks up again and proper pacing returns.
Every chapter is preceded by a short investigation report of the historical events that occurred during the story, I really loved those little tidbits of information and I hope these will be kept for the subsequent novels.

The narration of Andrew Tell is excellent, his performance is spot on and I felt I was listening to more of an Audio Drama at times. His voice and words are crystal clear (even when using various accents for the various characters) and it was a joy to listen to.

This audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.