The Gift

By: Dave Donovan

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

When an elite team of specialists receives a long-awaited first contact from an alien race, it’s nothing like what they’d imagined. The "gifts," from a long-dead but seemingly benevolent alien race, have been sent to help humanity defend itself against an imminent threat. It’s clear that the gifts are intended to help, but at what price?

Caught in the middle is Sam Steele, a high-level programmer and veteran with a tragic past, up against the arrogant, intransigent Colonel Eric Web, who considers Steele a loose cannon and is most concerned with giving the United States an edge in the upcoming battle.

As the team races against the clock to divine their visitors’ complex instructions, they struggle with infighting and, ultimately, the question of what it means to be human.

©2013 Dave Donovan (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

pacing of the story and the imagination awesome

I'm so happy this book didn't drag out the world building and the story arc backgrounds. Too many authors or editors leave in so much fluff. I wish I had a better way to explain that but I suppose I can only say the story pacing was excellent.

Why didn't I like the ending?

Great premise for a book! I was so excited to start this. I was enraptured through the first six hours and had to keep rewinding repeatedly during hours six, seven and eight because I kept drifting out. I guess this means I thought it dragged during this time.

I think this started strong but ended both too neatly and not tied up enough. Understanding that it's likely going to be followed up by another book or two, I still feel some things happened too quickly and were tied up too neatly. For example, Sam's sudden romance, the change and then end of Webb, and the way it ended. Trying not to say more and spoil for others. Everything else was drawn out well but these things seemed to suddenly drop in your lap and stay there.

That all being said, I'm sure I'll likely listen again, which is always fun to catch things you missed and mull over what is going to happen next! :-) Overall I really did love listening to this at work for a couple of days. Well worth the purchase.

Great listen, couldn't stop - stayed up all night.

Great story, well worth the time and attention. Waiting or the next installment. At least I hope there will be another installment.

Enjoyable listen

This was a pretty enjoyable though predictable listen. Characters were not very developed, but the plot moved at a good pace and the narration was good. This author thankfully did not attempt to stretch out the story in an attempt to produce two books from one book of material (something that I am seeing more and more of these days), instead, he has left the door open to start an entire new chapter of the story. i will want to read that also.

Nice start

This was a enjoyable audio book. looking forward to the next in hopefully will be a series