Ghosts

A First Contact Standalone

De: Peter Cawdron

Narrado por: Alex Picard

An alien spacecraft four times the size of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier enters the solar system.

Tensions run hot within the UN, but the alien vessel doesn't approach Earth. Instead, it sits off at L4, over a hundred million miles from Earth, baffling scientists around the world.

Chris "Crash" Williams leads an international crew to investigate the appearance of this ghost ship, but he quickly learns that the spacecraft isn't as dead as it seems.

Ghosts is inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's 1973 novel Rendezvous with Rama, which won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, the Hugo Award for Best Novel, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. Rendezvous with Rama is a classic that examines a plausible, realistic alien encounter, considering the physics involved and the inevitable politics and religious implications.

First Contact is a series of standalone novels that explore humanity's first interaction with extraterrestrial life. This series is similar to Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone in that the series is based on a common theme rather than common characters. These books can be listened to in any order. Technically, they're all first as they all deal with how we might initially respond to contact with aliens, exploring the social, political, religious, and scientific aspects of First Contact.

Contains a special note from the author.

©2023 Peter Cawdron (P)2024 Podium Audio

An Admirable Work Marred by Political Preaching

I liked the story a great deal. While somewhat derivative of Clarke’s “Rendezvous With Rama”— deliberately and reverentially so — it goes its own way to an interesting and satisfying conclusion.

Then why did I not rate it higher? Simple. I kept being pulled out of the story in its first two-thirds by randomly placed but very specific political preaching. The story would be moving along, when suddenly, one character or another would stop to lecture the reader/listener of a particular political view. This was made much worse by repeated discussion of certain events that have since been proven false.

From the beginning, authors have always woven political and sociological views into their tales. The best do it seamlessly, and it isn’t consciously noticed by the reader but influences all who experience the work. But highlighting such views, especially when reinforcing them by specific events that have since proven incorrect, shatters the narrative.

This author is very good with a story, and I hope in the future he either leaves politics out or, better yet, weaves his political views seamlessly, artfully into his work.

Great story ruined by wokeness!

The plot line was fantastic but woke politics knocked it off the rails. The areas of the story where the author sticks to science fiction are fantastic and very well done. However, the clear desire to push political viewpoints and other absurdities from that realm detracted greatly from the feel of the story. I won't be reading anymore books in this series or stories from this particular author. I prefer science fiction without politics.

Should be wider read

I’ve enjoyed every book by this author I’ve read. If it was by a big publisher it would have thousands of reads but it’s not.
If you get a chance to get this book or any in first contact series then do it. I’m almost sure you will enjoy it and become a fan like I have!

Captivating, Enthralling and Exceptional – Cawdron

Ghosts is the 28th standalone novel in Peter Cawdron’s ‘First Contact’ series, and this one is another masterclass in character driven science fiction with throwbacks to the 1973 classic by Arthur C Clarke “Rendezvous with Rama”.
Initially we meet a young intern at the White House, Molly Sorenson, on her first day. Molly finds herself thrust into a fascinating world of political intrigue when an alien vessel enters our solar system. Instead of heading towards Earth though, it heads towards the L4 Lagrange point, over a hundred million miles from Earth.
Whilst this is baffling, it becomes even more interesting when they realise the ship could only have come from potential star systems thousands of light years away, throwing speculation onto if there is any life on the ship at all.
With the United Nations in turmoil, and nations around the world not sure what this means, young Molly is tasked with trying to learn what she can.
As the UN is trying to come to terms with the realisation that humanity is not alone in the universe, we follow a team of international astronauts as they prepare to go out to the L4 and intercept the craft. There are several notable characters, including Chris ‘Crash’ Williams (the nickname has a very entertaining backstory), who represents the US contingent on the crew. There are representatives from the UK, China, India and Russia.
But as this story unfolds, there are multiple different things happening, some of thing on Earth within the different offices of power, some up in space as First Contact unfolds and not is all as it seems.
This is an incredibly well told story, Cawdron uses his characters well, as things are explained to different characters in the story, so to, are complex aspects of hard sci-fi explained to the reader so that we have a better understanding of what is taking place.
There is a mix of political intrigue on Earth, as multiple different factions are trying to come to terms with the concept that there is an alien power in our solar system, one that is vastly superior in technology and intelligence, and yet, we have no idea of what their intentions are? Have the gone to the L4 as a staging point? Or have they gone there because when they launched, humanity was only just starting out, and civilisation as we know it didn’t exist, and so they are here to observe, much like someone might observe an animal in the wild?
Meanwhile, several astronauts approach a ship, several times the size of a nuclear aircraft carrier, that has travelled thousands of light years, to try and communicate in some way. This part of the story is intense, eerie, and at times, there are parts, that with the right music, could out do most horror sci-fi movies.
As with all of Cawdron’s books, the Character writing is exceptional. The opening sequences following Molly into the White House is exceptional, leaving you on a roller coaster of emotions. As the book progresses, you find yourself becoming attached to multiple characters, and following their stories in this stunning first contact tale.
What really makes this story a standout though, is the world building. Cawdron not only takes you inside the White House, like he has been there every day for the last 20yrs, and so you feel like you are walking through it, including the Oval Office, but he takes you onto an alien starship. I am not going to say anything about the alien starship, as I don’t want to give any spoilers. However, his descriptive work is outstanding, stunning, intense, and at times, utterly terrifying.
Cawdron has again, and amazingly after 28 books, delivered another creative masterpiece that you won’t be able to put down from the moment you pick it up. An absolute must listen!
Alex Picard is outstanding as the Narrator of Ghosts.
She has a really clear and concise voice that is easy to listen, and she has a really lovely voice that is very nice to listen to for a long period of time, making it easy to listen to her for the entire audiobook.
She has a great selection of male and female voices, and she does them well enough, that you can tell the different character voices, without having to be told who is talking all of the time.
What is really great about her narration though, is that she provides the emotional range of the characters as well. This adds so much extra to the story.
Alex Picard does a really wonderful job – and it makes this absolutely worth listening to the audiobook!!

Peter Cawdron is an excellent author!

An excellent read! Peter Cawdron imagines unique scenarios of first contact. His stories are highly detailed and painstakingly accurate, something that I greatly appreciate as a scientist.

It’s my opinion

I don’t like to write reviews but this time I feel I must. Peter, you are preaching to the choir, I support and know a good deal about climate change. I’d imagine 90% of your listeners do too. Don’t preach to us. You are loosing what made your stories interesting, crazy new ideas. I’ve purchased almost all your books so I guess I earned this review.