• The Silver Ships

  • The Silver Ships, Book 1
  • By: S. H. Jucha
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (2,543 ratings)

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The Silver Ships  By  cover art

The Silver Ships

By: S. H. Jucha
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Publisher's summary

An explorer tug captain, Alex Racine detects a damaged alien craft drifting into the system. Recognizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make first contact, Alex pulls off a daring maneuver to latch on to the derelict. Alex discovers the ship was attacked by an unknown craft, the first of its kind ever encountered. The mysterious silver ship's attack was both instant and deadly.

What enfolds is a story of the descendants of two Earth colony ships, with very different histories, meeting 700 years after their founding and uniting to defend humanity from the silver ships.

©2015 S.H. Jucha (P)2015 Podium Publishing

What listeners say about The Silver Ships

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 2 Stars
    84
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    38
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,543
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    33
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Preachy political utopia and arrogant protagonist

I found this book to be a combination of interesting plot and annoying propaganda, surrounding an unrealistically masterful protagonist. I am still trying to decide if I want to continue the series after 3 books. The series grows increasingly preachy about promoting socialist utopias versus corrupt and backwards capitalists. All capitalists are greedy, selfish, unmotivated, uneducated, lazy, stupid and ignorant. All socialists are enlightened, educated, motivated, giving, generous, incredibly innovative, and beautiful. (Ironic, all of the above...) The rhetoric becomes tedious and increasingly so, as you get deeper into the books.

Moreover, I find the protagonist began as a reasonably nice, intelligent person, but as the series progresses, he becomes incredibly arrogant, controlling, and domineering. Either the plot is making a point of showing the corruption of character, which I haven't delved deeply enough into the series to see as a plot point, or the author actually thinks this guy is cool. I think he has become rather revolting.

Undecided if I will finish the series. I am intrigued by the plot as a whole, but those objections above are making slogging through the series seem more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.

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87 people found this helpful

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

I wanted to like it, but the agenda ruined it

Regardless of whether or not I agree, I hate having anyone's political agenda thrown in my face so hard that I can't just ignore it. The Silver Ships has the hallmarks of being a very interesting, classically styled sci-fi story. But the author is unfortunately very heavy handed in his application of his political agenda throughout the book. He accomplishes it by suddenly demonstrating his agenda so heavily that one cannot simply ignore it and move on. And when he wraps up one agenda item, he saturates the story with another. Then he returns to the interesting story, pulls you into full attention, then hits you with more politically motivated content in such a way as, again, you can't just ignore it and move on.

I could make a list of the author's ideas that make up his agenda, but that doesn't make my point. I listen to books like this to escape society's current problems for a little while, not to be reminded of them by being repeatedly slapped in the face with them.

This could and should have been a enjoyable and interesting book. But in the end, I just couldn't wait for it to end so I could move onto something that actually allows me the fun and escape I'm looking for.

As for the narration, Grover Gardner delivers an admirable performance. He maintains a good pace and does a good job of fleshing out the characters. I probably would have skipped the last third of the book if his work didn't keep me going.

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84 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Childish characters and cartoonishly liberal

Would you try another book from S.H. Jucha and/or Grover Gardner?

I will never try this author again. The entire book is specified in the summary. The narrator did fine.

What was most disappointing about S.H. Jucha’s story?

The initial hour was ok but then story got very boring. Every character is perfect and virtuous. Well, except for the evil, evil, evil conservative characters. The view of big government is good and private industry is bad is reiterated multiple times and to absurd degrees.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

This book leaves you sad and disappointed that any time was spent with this horrid story.

Any additional comments?

Save yourself from this mess.

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49 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Unrealized Potential

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Nope. Jucha is more interested in pushing his socialist propaganda than telling a good story. He makes clear his views on climate change and gun control from the beginning. The New Terran society seems to be this would be socialist utopia if not for the evil capitalist corporations. Jucha pushes this idea that the government knows best and capitalist ideals are the makings of oppression. There is very little action. The entire book consists of promoting his leftist agenda and planning. Poor planning at that. There is very little thought put into goals of the characters.

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Grover Gardner is a fantastic narrator. He brings life to an otherwise dead book.

Any additional comments?

A free spirit freighter captain stumbles on a derelict ship. He investigates and finds a shot up ship with an AI and a few sissies from a society of sissies and pansies. The whole socialist Utopian planet of New Terra decides to help. They rebuild the ship in exchange for a bunch of new technology. The plot promotes the benevolence of our Big Brother the government and the evils of capitalist thinking. The nemesis for the majority of the book is not the aliens of the silver ships but corporations looking to make a buck and also screw up the planet. Oh and at the end, the ridiculous excuse for a fighting force destroys a single alien ship. Just one. A little one.

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46 people found this helpful

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

Good, old fashioned SF reminiscent of Heinlein

There's a simplicity and an innocence to the books in this series that reminds me of "Golden Age" science fiction. If you're looking for highly complex plotting, deep and intriguing character flaws, or science based explanations for things you're going to be disappointed. This a series for fun. The good guys are very very good. The bad guys are clearly defined. The technology is interestingly imaginative and entirely unexplained. It's a fun, predictable, good guys win kind of story.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Preachy and boring

I wanted to like this book and listened to it two more hours beyond the point I decided I didn’t like it, which took me to the midpoint of the narration. The characters were not very deep and there was very little to like about them. Being attractive should not be the only trait that stands out. The protagonist was too good with only a thin attempt to give him a fault, which was then basically ignored.

The plot started out good but then got lost in boring details. There was not enough dramatic tension to move the story forward. What little tension was there was forced and preachy with a clear political agenda that completely turned me off. The projected socialist utopia was the most fictitious part of the story.

On the positive side, Grover Gardner is an excellent narrator.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Buildup for a Promising Series

I thought this was a good start for what will be an interesting series. This book seemed to be more of the buildup for the books to come.

The book takes place in a universe where colony ships from earth were launched thousands of years ago. It is not known what exactly happened to all of the ships, only that the inhabitants of the New Terran system are the descendants of the passengers of one of those ships.

The book centers around a young mining captain named Alex. A brilliant mathematician, Alex was the first to calculate a complex equation that allowed for the flinging of ice asteroids on a trajectory that made them easier to retrieve, making him a minor celebrity and quite wealthy for someone so young.

On a trip home Alex detects what turns out to be a derelict alien ship on a ballistic course through the system. When he captures and boards the ship, he discovers that the ships AI is still active, and he helps to restore the ship’s power and primary systems. Eventually, the AI awakens the surviving crew and passengers who have been in stasis sleep for over 70 years.

Upon awakening the crew, Alex learns that the ship belongs to the human descendants of another earth colony ship. Alex and his fellow New Terrans also learn that the ship was attacked by an unknown alien ship which resulted in its uncontrolled, 70 year long voyage to the New Terran system.
An alliance is formed between the ship’s survivors (hundreds of years more advanced) and the New Terrans. The ship’s AI and survivors will provide the New Terrans with their advanced technology in exchange for the repair and arming of their passenger ship, and help in fighting the new alien menace.

Most of the book is the typical first-contact dialogue, along with discussion and troubleshooting how they will fight the technologically advanced alien menace. There is one minor skirmish at the end of the book, however. I think that this was more of the buildup for the rest of the series. I’m hoping to see a few more space battles and action in the next books, though this book wasn’t at all boring.

I give this one a good 4.5 stars. Narration was solid as well. I think this is a promising start to a new series, and am hoping for even more in the next books.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Smart protagonists!

Fun read. It was really nice to see people making smart decisions instead of doing stupid stuff to create additional drama in the narrative.

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22 people found this helpful

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

Flawed but worth the time

Any additional comments?
The book has a great start. The world the author creates is intriguing and pulls you in. I was reminded of Jack Vance and some of his books in which long separated human lineages evolved into radically different forms. The author introduces two very different human lineages with a set up for at least four more. That's the good. The bad, the flaws are numerous and take attention from enjoying the story. One is that the main characters have no flaws. None. They like each other, cooperate completely and always have a good time as they all happily work together to overcome the story hurdles. The two lineages have a fun time discovering the good points of each others wonderful cultures. Two the author has a two dimensional view of today's politics which he can't help but impose on his story and it feels heavy handed. Big government is best and is best suited to run society and the economy. Capitalism is bad, very bad and shameful. Conservatives it follows are very bad too and he makes sure that's understood by the reader. The good characters by the end of the book seem to be plodding methodically towards plot points.

Having pointed out those two negatives I admit that I liked the set up enough that I will probably listen to the next book in the series.

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22 people found this helpful

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

too much of a set up for the other three novels

The Silver Ships by S.H. Jucha centers around a young mining captain named Alex Racine. Alex became sort of a minor celebrity for being the first to calculate a complex equation that allowed for the ‘slingshotting’ of ice asteroids that made them easier and quicker to retrieve.

While heading back to his home on New Terran, Alex detects a derelict alien craft on a course through the system and decides to recon it. Once aboard, he discovers that the AI on the ship is still active and asks Alex to help restore the ship. While bringing the power systems back online, Alex soon finds out that another race, similar to humans, has been on this ship for 70 years and he has helped bring them out of their stasis. Come to find out, these creatures are descendants from another Earth colony ship who were attacked by an unknown alien ship, resulting in their stasis.

An alliance between the ship’s survivors, who are one hundred years more advanced, and the New Terrans is created. The ship’s AI and survivors promise to provide the New Terrans with the technology they possess, including nanotechnology, in exchange for the repair and arming of their passenger ship. And, of course, help with fighting and defeating this new enemy. But will it be that easy of a task? Will these survivors and the New Terrans be able to cooperate?

There are a couple of issues I found with the novel. Number one is that none of the main characters have flaws, not a single one. They all get along just fine, never once do they come to separate conclusions or have differing opinions. Number two is that, after a very intriguing beginning to the story, it becomes slightly boring and no action ever seems to take place. The novel feels like too much of a set up for the other three novels and it begins to downplay the enjoyment you should have while reading/listening.

All in all, this is a good edition to the SciFi genre, unless you are looking for something action packed or fast paced. Grover Gardner does a great job with the audio and I would expect that he will continue doing so through the rest of the series. Not sure if I will pick up the next in the series, but don’t let that detract you.

Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.

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

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18 people found this helpful