A Learning Experience, Book 1

By: Christopher G. Nuttall

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Earth is not alone. There is a towering civilization out in the galaxy, far greater than anything we can imagine. But we are isolated from the galaxy...until now.

When a bunch of interstellar scavengers approach Earth intending to abduct a few dozen humans and sell them into slavery in the darkest, they make the mistake of picking on Steve Stuart and his friends, ex-military veterans all. Unprepared for humans who can actually fight, unaware of the true capabilities of their stolen starships, the scavengers rapidly lose control of the ship - and their lives.

To Steve the captured starship represents a great opportunity, one to establish a new civilization away from Earth and its increasingly oppressive bureaucracy. But with the aliens plotting their revenge and human factions suspicious of the new technology, it will be far from easy to create a whole new world....

©2014 Christopher G. Nuttall (P)2016 Podium Publishing

Trying so hard to finish

well the whole idea of the story was awesome and I couldn't wait to dig in, then it became very clear very fast that Nuttell was instead of writing a great sci fi novel, he was writing his anti establishment, anti American,anti everything manifesto disguised in a sci-fi story. It just got worst and worst to the point that I could almost picture him just writing away with a pissed off look on his face & it completely took away from what could have been a really fun story. Also, the repetitive he said,she said,Steve said,she said,Steve said... geeze. I'm really dissapointed, I was really looking forward to this story. Do yourself a favor & skip to last chapter & the prologue literally sums up the book without Nuttall's personal gripes,hate & reasons why he lives on an island far from Western ideology. Overall I'm very dissapointed.

Red neck Sy-Fy that fail

I normally enjoy Mr. Nuttlall works. This book Falls very short of his normal offerings. The characters are awfully one-dimensional. Not even Mr. Rummel's narration can save this very weak story with very predictable plot twist.

A interesting new series from a veteran scifi author

I very much enjoyed this intro book to a new series from Mr. Nuttall. It started a little slow and wasn't as mature as some of his previous works but it has the potential to be his best.

I very much look forward to the next in the series!

Fun popcorn for individualists

This is not literature for the ages, but it is fun listening for those that still believe in self-determination or are just sick and tired of the current politically correct environment. If you are now thinking "what politically correct environment" then this book is probably not for you.

Almost a good start on a new series

If you don't want to listen to propaganda on how all conservative and libertarian ideas are good and all liberal and progressive ideas are bad made up by little sexless assholes, don't buy this one. I have listened to all of his books on Audible and I like all of them, solid 4.5s, but the presidential election year must have filled his brain. I do have to say my eye's are at full fitness from all the eye-rolls at the bursts of self contradictory crap.

Once you get by the self-important insights into philosophy, he does a good job of developing his characters and the overall setting. It's easy to accept and follow. It is about the Earth at the very door step of interstellar flight and the choices and the precipice before us with aliens all around us and a slippery road ahead. In this case there are some not-so-diabolical crab aliens, but they are well drawn if a bit sketchy, too.

I plan to listen to the next one, too. I am just hoping he has his tv off and does explode with a conservative/libertarian orgasm of words. (Okay, I stole that last bit from this book.) Nuttall lke Heinlein are at their worst when they are preachy. On the other hand, if he doesn't get bogged down he writes well craft, fast paced books.

Great series!

Well, if you like space opera and or military sci-fi give this series a listen.

Good premise for a fun story and series but

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

Not really. The premise is interesting and has possibilities but didn't find the characters likable or worth rooting for. The constant whining tone from the author I found annoying and led me to just dislike the characters and not want to continue their story

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Less whining and focus on the story and the characters

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

Yes and I like this narrator. I listened to another series that he did and think he is very good at presenting the story and maximizing each character.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

Just thought it was a good premise for a fun story and series but didn't like the characters or find them worthy of my time.

Good idea, execution ... eh

The story idea and premise are solid and interesting enough. I found the writing, forced, and lacking in depth. I feel the author had too many viseral axes he wanted to grind (anti-government, which I personally sympathize with), but seemed to assume everyone reading simply agreed with the narrator.

The action was good, but generally, results seemed to end up too conveniently in our character's favor.

The several "porn" references annoyed me a bit. I enjoy a titillating peep-show as well as the next red blooded man, but I got the idea the author recently discovered porn, and wanted to share his facination with the reader.

Overall, the story is ok. The narrator took a bit away from the story (I thought), but probably kept me listening longer than I would otherwise.

If the author fleshed out his characters more, spent more time with "logical/realistic plot progression," then I believe this story might have rivaled any by Turtledove, or Allan Steele."

Rummel's Reading is never a miss! Book, great fun!

Christopher G. Nuttall's _A Learning Experience, Book 1_ receives four stars from me. The book is fun; the situation interesting. It is a great diversion especially in the Time of Corona.

Rummel's reading. Humm, I think I'm developing an unhealthy attachment to Rummel's readings. Astounding performance. This book is no exception to his ability to create so many different voices, and his female voices are good too. I think it may also be the type of books he reads. I don't know enough about the industry to know if he chooses them or if he is selected., but someone has paired him well. For combat, work, space opera, Rummel's deep resonant voice is perfectly matched. I first encountered his work with Something Wicked This Way Comes, and his performance was unbelievable. Highly recommended.

The book:

I'm going to start with some negatives first. Nuttall gets a bit redundant at times when discussing the main character's partner. Look we understand that she's his partner, the love of his life, and in every respect his wife without the title. We don't need to hear it 8 times. Once is enough. It would have been more interesting if Steve (the main character) questioned why he never married her, and most importantly why is this important. This is an interesting aspect of Steve that is both a positive and a negative. Steve is conservative, like more right than he might realize. He has ideas about others that are dancing on the line of prejudice. I think he's set for changing his ideas in the future. This was negative because his ideas seemed too stereotypical to me, and lacked any depth. This is a positive because he isn't as right as he may think he is, and this will allow him to question and grow. Lastly, I think the author gets distracted with outside elements, like environmental protest about terraforming Mars. I found that unbelievable (but who knows maybe). The story is fine without these occasional comments.

Ok, the book. This is great fun. I loved the situation of these aliens seeking to abduct some humans, but accidentally abducted a family of military men, well trained military men. I enjoyed the development of the book thereafter (since this happens in chapter 1, I've not given any spoilers). The situation is at many times kind of comical. The plot is pretty solid. It is clearly one book in a series, but it has a goal that is met in the end. If you read this, and enjoyed it but didn't think you wanted to go further, you'd be ok. YOu wouldn't really be hanging in the air.

Recommended: The book, yes, I recommended for anyone interested in a fun story. I also recommend it highly to my friends who are miltary men who are unsure if they would like space opera. This would be a good start for them.

Good story with a very right wing point of view

What did you like best about A Learning Experience, Book 1? What did you like least?

Well thought out "what if" scenario with realistic consequences. Despite my reservations, it is a good read

Would you be willing to try another book from Christopher G. Nuttall? Why or why not?

yes.but only to see the story through to the end

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

Any additional comments?

The author is obviously a fan of the Heinlein and Anne Rand philosophy of civilization. The simplistic view of national and world government mistrust is overwhelming. The author takes the position that military combat veterans are the only trustworthy individuals around and they have been betrayed by their government. Combine that with a simplistic philosophy all social problems can be solved via rugged individualism and you have utopian non-starter for world order. All the thorny legal and social issues that we always continue to grapple with have been solved by the alien "lie detector". How nice. Anyway, just be aware of the philosophy of the author