Cast Under an Alien Sun

Destiny's Crucible, Book 1

By: Olan Thorensen

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

What if you were thrown into a foreign society, never to see home again? What would you do, and could you survive?

Joe Colsco boarded a flight from San Francisco to Chicago to attend a national chemistry meeting. He would never set foot on Earth again.

On planet Anyar, Joe is found unconscious on a beach of a large island inhabited by humans where the level of technology is similar to Earth circa 1700. He awakes amid strangers speaking an unintelligible language and struggles to accept losing his previous life and finding a place in a society with different customs, needing a way to support himself and not knowing a single soul. His worry about finding a place is assuaged when he finds ways to apply his knowledge of chemistry - as long as he is circumspect in introducing new knowledge not too far in advance of the planet's technology and being labelled a demon.

As he adjusts, Joe finds that he has be dropped into a developing clash between the people who cared for him, and for whom he develops an affinity, and a military power from elsewhere on the planet - a power with designs on conquest. Unaware, Joseph Colsco has been poured into a crucible where time and trials will transform him in ways he could never have imagined.

Cast Under an Alien Sun is a story that's science fiction in premise, adventure in execution - a cross-genre adventure with elements of science fiction, history, hard science, epic fantasy, time travel, romance, alien contact, and space colonization.

©2016 Olan Thorensen (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Subliminal Assimilation

The first book of Destiny's Crucible has a riveting start, immediately followed by more mundane ground-laying, but gradually finds a way weave itself into your psyche. By the end of the first third of the book, you do not want to put it down. Surprisingly, what holds your attention is not fast action or a suspenseful plot. You keep listening because of a genuine bonding with the main characters, love of location in time and space, and the tantalizing potential of what the main character is going to do. You simply become very interested in his new life. This may sound simple, but it's effectively good writing - character development at its finest!

Cast Under an Alien Sun is not quite a literary masterpiece, but it is extremely well written and subtly entertaining. Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, everything in this book seems to be just right. It has just the right amount of science, sex, violence, and intrigue to keep things interesting and fresh. The narrative is mature, but not stuffy. And for Science Fiction, there is zero hokiness and believable context The performance by Jonathan Davis is superb and pleasant to listen to.

Because I have strict criteria about what I give 5 stars, I can't quite go there; but would easily give this book 4.5 stars if I could. What I look for in a 5 star book is that element that transforms a well written entertaining story into something deeper and more meaningful. Cast Under an Alien Sun is an entertaining and extremely well written book. Thoresen clearly has the potential to put the other books in the series over the top. I guess I'll have to read them and find out - something I am definitely looking forward to doing!

Instantly Hooked

This book was extremely satisfying for me -- it had such an unusual mix of hard science, historical fiction, off-world anthropology, and yes, sword-play, put together with skill and inspiration, that I couldn't stop listening. I usually listen to books while driving to/from work and maybe during lunch a bit. With this book, I got home and just started looking for random menial chores to do so I could continue listening.

Then of course there is Jonathan Davis (if you have never heard his rendition of Snow Crash, you are missing out). Davis' performance is absolutely A-class, but then, he is always that good. I've picked books based solely on the fact that he read them.

The combination of a great author and narrator like here, should probably be regulated as a controlled substance. I'm totally hooked, just counting the days before I can download book 2.

Nice mix of genres. Very likeable protagonist

Really enjoyed this first book & well into the second; hoping for the third. I like audible books which are good enough to keep me wanting more, but not overly intense, with thoughtful ideas presented throughout. Very nice mix of SF, history, economics, warfare, scientific progression... this is not in my top-tier of brilliant books, but was quite enjoyable for my purpose at the time. Good enough that I'm spending the credits for next in the series! Also, I like to think that in most ways the main character does what I would try to do in the unlikely event it happens to me, & you can't prove that it won't. Review by Rick L

An Instant Favourite!

I was drawn to the Sci-Fi premise but was pleasantly surprised how it turned into a world-building story with a very relatable main character. There is a strong focus on the story arc at the expense of fast-paced action which will explain why others have called it 'boring' (paraphrasing), but there is enough humour and action to mix things up. I know I was enjoying this book because I couldn't wait to begin my commute to and from work so I could listen to it. I went on to listen to each of the other 3 books currently available and by the end, I had to listen to it at home on the weekend because I couldn't wait for Monday to come. I thoroughly enjoyed all 4 books and this is definitely a series I would call one of my favourites and would certianly recommend it!

Wonderful 'Yankee In Camalot' romp

What made the experience of listening to Cast Under an Alien Sun the most enjoyable?

Jonathan Davis is one of my favorite narrators and he his amazing talents bring the book to life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cast Under an Alien Sun?

There is a scene where our Joe is talking with the abbot and he's mentally trying to work through what he can share in terms of technology that won't land him being branded a witch.

New twist on a familial story

What made the experience of listening to Cast Under an Alien Sun the most enjoyable?

The author has a lot of actual scientific knowledge,as well as earth history, which makes the story so much more believable and entertaining.
He describes a man named Joe, from our time being placed on an alien world but in a time period similar to the 1700s on earth. Joe's ability to bring technology to this group of peaceful island dwelling farmers is limited to materials available or known to the alien residents whose ancestors came from earth thousands of years ago..
The story is captivating as he discovers what can actually be produced to enhance their lives and perhaps used to defend his new friends against an aggressive race from across the sea set on their destruction. .
I really enjoyed listening to the detailed descriptions of what it might take to make things we take for granted in todays world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cast Under an Alien Sun?

After a mid air plane explosion, Joe finds himself on an alien space craft for an extended period of time talking to an AI who will determine his future. These interchanges were very thought provoking and interesting.

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

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did want to listen to this book all in one sitting. But instead have been listening to it on a long car journey from Texas to Ohio and back over several days.

Any additional comments?

Was disappointed that the other 2 books in the series are not on audible. I bought the kindle versions of the last 2 so I could finish the story.

Great story, a very good listen.

Bought the audible after reading the print. very good story, narrator is one of the best.

Excellent is too pale a compliment

I have seldom read a better series of books than those that make up this saga. The situation is fascinating. A modern man from earth, a chemist by trade is suddenly sent to a distant world set in the 18th century. How he brings modern inventions to this new culture and how he teaches historic military tactics from earth sets up a wonderfully well thought out situation. Added to the really thought provoking story are the well crafted three dimensional characters. I felt they were almost real people. The hero is a likable guy and the supporting characters are believable. The conversations are also believable, Now for the narration, Its among the best I have heard. I can't heap enough praise on this series of books. Many of the series I read give me a sense of satisfaction at the end. This one made me sad there were no more stories, no new visits to a wonderful world with great characters narrated by a top rank author. If I could, Id award ten or a dozen stars in every category. I urge you to start with this one then follow the other volumes to their conclusion.

The Author paints wonderful illustration

A great sci-fi story that is so easy to listen to , credit to the narrator !

fun book!

can't wait to see where the story goes! hurry and get them out! it would make a cool series.