Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

By: Martin Wilsey

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Advanced technology indistinguishable from magic

Martin Wilsey's Still Falling: Solstice 31 Saga is a sci-fi variant of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, although by medieval standards, the Middle Ages were somewhat enlightened. A survey ship, on an undescribed mission to an inhabited planet is destroyed immediately upon entering orbit. The lone survivor, Barkus with the aid of an advanced, and heavily modified shuttle AI must survive and unravel the mystery of the planet where the culture is based around a high priesthood of "keepers" who control all the technology, which the rest of the population regards as magic and women are regarded as property, while most men are regarded as slaves.

The sci-fi elements are mostly confined to the AI variety. Spaceflight is feasible, but plays a minimal role. Implants and sophisticated medical technology is also on prominent display. A unique angle for the tale is that each chapter opens with a brief excerpt from a future investigation report that alludes to a judicial proceeding and sheds some insight into the current action. Something bad has subsequently occurred, but whether this involves a planet colonization gone wrong or some other event is unclear. Exactly what the survey ship was supposed to be doing is never outlined. Watching Barkus deliberately attempt to reset the planet's civilization is the main draw for the tale.

The narration is quite good, especially with the transition from human to AI.

A unique story.

This is an original story that is very creative.It has a good plot with characters you care about.

The performance by the Narrator is the key it is the glue that keeps you attached to this interesting story.




This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

A gradually unfolding onion!

Would you listen to Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1) again? Why?

No - I don't like rereading things

What did you like best about this story?

I liked it's originality. The AI component, the unfolding of all the characters and how their motivations intersect, and the 3rd person commentary, all combine to make for an entertaining and different experience - one that will suck you in and make you keep listening when you should be hitting the sack! Very well written characters, not your ordinary ones either.

Have you listened to any of Andrew Tell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My first

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not particularly...but I'm not too sentimental

Any additional comments?

At almost 15 hrs, I was afraid I'd get restless, but it never occured. The story just keeps going and going, and you can't stop listening. And, the ending completely surprised me! But, in a good way. Way to leave you wanting more!

good but didn't connect

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Was a good start for the series. But for me i couldn't connect with the story so was hard for me to finish.

Any additional comments?

Audio book blast book free review copy.
thank you.

Rule 1: Don't go into space without AI buddies

I give this book high marks for its interesting primary, secondary and even tertiary characters of the story. The author's writing is also very good; albeit, a bit too repetitive at times. The narrator was also good but his tone came off with a bit too much empathy for my tastes. The beginning part of the novel was somewhat slow in its unfolding and took some patience to stick with it, however, the listener will be rewarded after that. At its core, the story is about a surprise downing of a friendly starship onto a hostile planet and the seemingly sole survivor's quest to then make those who killed his loved one and all his friends pay for this atrocity. While on the planet, he discovers many more reasons to hate the pitiless rulers for their heinous assaults on the peaceful inhabitants.

Caveat: While tastefully written there are some intimate moments which some may feel are too revealing for adolescents.

different

I went into this book thinking it was a space story from looking at the cover. it is not. character crash lands on planet with all this tech and the people are so backward like 1200's . women are basically slaves?? not my kind of story. my eyes kept rolling.. narrator Andrew Tell does an excellent job . "This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Wow... Just wow.

An amazing mix of old English knights and modern tech. A classic one man against all odds vs tyranny. A story. I , cannot wait for book 2.