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Here Comes Earth  By  cover art

Here Comes Earth

By: William Lee Gordon
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
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Publisher's summary

Where did mankind really come from? Why are we here? We can't understand the past until we embrace the future. These critical mysteries take center stage as Earth emerges into a galactic society that is far more perilous than anyone could have imagined. Our history is far more complicated than we could have known. Can a few brilliant minds find a way out for Earth?

One saving grace is that there are those who believe ancient clues foretell that Earth has a destiny, and if we can survive our present difficulties, we might just find out what that destiny is....

Dr. Mark Spencer was a young, up-and-coming history and anthropology professor who was all too familiar with what happens to less advanced civilizations when suddenly exposed to others of considerably higher technology. There's only one survivor, and the culture witnessing magic isn't it. When modern-day Earth suddenly finds itself on the losing end of that proposition, a team of the world's best scientists is put together to find a solution. Of course the advanced society being friendly, Earth's citizens uniting, and the world's politicians working together for the common good would help tremendously, but...what if none of that were true?

©2014 William Lee Gordon (P)2015 Podium Publishing

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What listeners say about Here Comes Earth

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Sexist tripe

If you like your lead character to describe a woman’s body and looks in general along with his sexual prowess in every chapter you’re going to like this book.

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29 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

95% cool sci-fi story; 5% weird libertarian rants.

With these books I finally gain an understanding of why some people like Twilight. These books were fun pulpy novels. Nothing more, nothing less. Every character is a Mary Sue. Every. Single. Character. It's sci-fi and even the human race is a Mary Sue- absolutely unique in the universe and while there are species that are technologically more advanced it's obvious that we're the best at everything. The entire galaxy is watching our birth into the stars. The heroes are without flaw and the villains are obviously evil and stupid. The women are gorgeous and the men are handsome. The main protagonist (the book is 1st person but rotates characters every chapter) is brilliant, right about everything, and no woman can resist his charms and he beds them within 24 hours. Seriously, even Ian Fleming would tell this author to tone it down a bit. I'd quit if the story weren't actually pretty interesting but no amount of suspension of disbelief will make you forget you're reading a book. 95% of it is really cool universe and an extremely well thought out political system and religion. 5% is weird neck-beard views on romance and libertarian rants.

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26 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

generally entertaining, though confusing at times

The international space station is suddenly and inexplicably transported from earth orbit to the outer solar system. All the astronauts aboard die. A group of nearly human aliens arrive to explain it was their rivals who did it. “Join us, so we can protect you from them.” They insist. Earth quickly gathers its strongest and brightest on a journey with our new alien friends out into the far reaches of the galaxy. Purpose unknown. Things aren’t always as they seem, however. It is unclear who is friend and who is foe, not only among the aliens, but among the Earthers.

We learn about the aliens and how Earthers are closely related in genetic origin. Our genes were manipulated thousands of years ago, against galactic rules. A complex play of alien morality and motivations are at work, with Earth as the prize. The transported Earthers must learn who to trust and then move quickly against overwhelming technology and odds with little information.

There are several main characters that the author switches at each chapter, each presenting his or her story from a first person perspective. As an audiobook, this sometimes gets confusing. Though you are told who is speaking at each chapter change, the voice and perspective can be similar and you might lose perspective if you don’t listen carefully. You may catch yourself asking, “who’s this again?” Not a fatal flaw, just probably more effective in reading, rather than in audio.

There is a great deal of political science discussion between human and alien. Most of it is quite interesting and important to the story; but be warned, there isn’t a lot of action or suspense until you are two thirds of the way into the book. Sexual tension pervades most of the inner thoughts of three of the main characters, a kind of lust triangle. One man wants to shtup every female with a pulse (human or alien), one wants to find a woman like dear old mom, and finally the girl who is attracted to the bad boy, but doesn’t want to get hurt. We want to respect these brilliant scientists and powerful soldiers, but these juvenile sex fantasies tend to lead us astray.

The story starts off interestingly enough with hard science fiction, trying to envision futuristic governments and alien hierarchies, but soon morphs into a Scifi fantasy, Narnia in outer space or something. It is hard to say without listening to the sequel(s).

The story is narrated by Jeffrey Kafer. He has a good voice and is easy to listen too. Unfortunately, the changes between male lead characters are not different enough, so that occasionally we are confused as to who is speaking. Not a deal breaker and very good over all.

Here Comes Earth is generally entertaining, though confusing at times. The novel ends abruptly, leading us to the clear understanding that this is book one in a series, probably a long one. Perhaps put in context of a much larger story (assuming several sequels), the jury should hold its verdict on the novel until then. One should listen knowing that it is only the start of a much more involved story of unknown length.

Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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22 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Could not finish

Way too much unnecessary political commentary. Author just ruined the story to promote his libertarian anti government views thankfully audible was giving away this book (no surprise) which saves me from requesting a refund.

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17 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I'm a macho guy and I can have sex

This is not really what I was looking for. The macho guy who knows more than anyone around and can sleep with all the women shaded the interesting science fiction. I couldn't finish it, even for free.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Right wing philosophy

The book was ok, characters are not the most dynamic or fleshed out and you don’t get too attached to them through the book. Point of view of narrator switches between characters at times and it’s hard keep track who’s who as the characters aren’t that different. My biggest problem is the right wing politics intertwined throughout the book which doesn’t add much to the plot and seems more like the author just wanting to give his view.

How many mass shootings are committed by people that have legally purchased their firearm? A lot and to say gun control doesn’t work because “bad guys don’t follow laws”. Is bullshit. I’m really glad this title was free otherwise I would be looking for a refund.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Ew. Just ew. Women Beware.

Thankfully this book was a free rental because I couldn’t finish it. The narration was extremely dry with no distinction between the characters, but I could have looked past this. My biggest issue is the number of passages dedicated to the (a?) main male character expounding on his sexual prowess, and not in a way that enriches the story or the character, but simply as what I imagine to be the author’s perception of himself, or wishful thinking. The adjective “thirsty” comes to mind. Unsurprisingly, the women in this story are all objectified and their characters are completely flat.
I haven’t read or listened to anything else by Mr. Gordon, and now I likely never will.

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14 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars

Horny teenager meets aliens

What would have made Here Comes Earth better?

Most of the references to sex deleted. This character is obsessed with sex. Sees all women as sex conquests and when meeting aliens is more concerns with bedding them than anything else. This is a story of the character's conquest to get laid against a backstory of some alien stuff. Awful. Have asked for a refund.

Would you ever listen to anything by William Lee Gordon again?

Yes

What about Jeffrey Kafer’s performance did you like?

Excellent voice, right characterisation. Shame about the plot.

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11 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Is this soft core porn for men or is it a sci-fi novel??

It’s amazing how much of the book is concerned about women in bikinis (sometimes reduced down to “brown bodies”) and how women select men for sex (according the obviously male author). It comes across like the author is more concerned with incel fantasies than writing a science fiction novel. An hour in and all I’ve really taken in about the narrator is that he’s a shallow sex addict who has women throw themselves at him. I feel bad for the narrator having to work around this. Just not good. It’s like the author wanted to channel the more erotic sides of Richard K Morgan but didn’t know what it was like to actually have sex.

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9 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars

puerile porn.

The search for clean, well written scifi continues in futility...

...I am grateful Audible allows some titles that are the beginnings of series free...it allows me to sample and search.... This book was not free, however.


I dream of a day when I can find good scifi that doesn't HAVE to resort to porn. Especially porn that doesnt advance or enrich the plot at all.

Today is not that day. Mr. Gordon is another in a long line of authors completely incapable of avoiding the peurile(if universal) trope of writing a scifi story with the shoehorned attempt at rewriting 2000 years of western civilization's sexual morality to allow promiscuous fornication, intentionally framed to inflame.

I have started to appreciate the authors who get right to the stupid, idiotic "sexy-fun-time" early, so less of my time and money is waisted. This one takes the dubious crown however. This one gets to the bikini clad sex-pots in the first couple sentences, before even any character is named.

Maybe, someday, Audible will allow people to search for works that don't fall into the tired and sophomoric trap of titillation. They'd get alot more money out of me, and I wouldn't end up feeling bitter and tricked into buying books that end up wild dissappointments.

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9 people found this helpful