Castaway Planet

Boundary, Book 4

By: Eric Flint, Ryk E. Spoor

Narrated by: Allyson Johnson

New entry in the best-selling Boundary series.

Stranded humans must adapt alien technology to survive on a dangerous planet. Lost in the dark, half a year into their journey to the colony world of Tantalus, Sakura Kimei, her family, and her best friend, the alien "Bemmie" nicknamed Whips, are torn from the safety of their colony ship. In a crippled lifeboat, they have one chance to find a habitable world. But even then they will find that their apparent salvation is a world of a thousand secrets.

©2015 Eric Flint and Ryk Spoor (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Nice Swiss Family Robinson reboot

This endearingly retro take on the castaway motif, with clear intimations of "Lost in Space," "Swiss Family Robinson," and Heinlein's "Rolling Stones" will evoke pleasant nostalgia in those old enough to remember such titles. For the young adult audience for whom the book is intended, I expect it to prove an exciting introduction to the genre. A young scientist couple and their five children (four human girls and one adopted alien boy) are marooned on an uninhabited planet. Fortunately all seven are geniuses, and the non-human among them is a badass apex predator, so they survive and flourish. Very satisfying, if not especially original. Prior knowledge of the "Boundary" series provides some background, but is not necessary.

Typical Sequel

Like many sequels to great books, it pales in comparison with its antecedents. Still, not bad, and the narration was excellent.

Story Is Now A YA Adventure

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

Allyson Johnson's performance seems very stilted. I'm sure it has to do with the material as this book has a very different feel than the previous 3 books. While I will listen to the sequel to this book, readers of the preivious books need to realize that the story is now a young adult adventure

Any additional comments?

I'd recommend this book for younger teens, though at times the 15-year-old protagonist does act like a much younger child.

Surprised but not dissapointed

Unlike the first three novels in this collection book four is told as a juvenile with only two adult characters. I enjoy this format but was quite surprised at the shift as the first three novels are told from a much more mature viewpoint and the characters are all secure in those viewpoints. Book four on the other hand is a coming of age story set around a century and a half after the conclusion of book three. Technology that was brand new or just discovered in the first three book arc is now mature and reliable, until something goes terribly wrong. Using the bioforming techniques and technological information discovered from records and remnants left behind by the ancient alien who visited Earth 65 million years ago Humanity has started colonies on several nearby worlds with human friendly environments. We have even used alien Bioforming techniques on the Europa native intelligences to restore the ability to breath air allowing them to live and work with us on Earth and her far flung colonies. This novel is an excellent start to a new story arc.

ridiculous

Would you try another book from Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor and/or Allyson Johnson?

Not one this Allyson Johnson wrote

What was most disappointing about Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor ’s story?

I read the first 3 books and really liked them, I don't know who actually wrote this one but the entire premise of the store was stupid. I don't know what feminist fantasy the author lives in but the subservience of the only male character and the idea that "captain Mom" was the biggest and strongest of the two is ridiculous and offensive. The idea that this woman married a small wimpy man is right out of the current feminist craze.
Remember the shuttle came in at hyper sonic speed into the atmosphere and survived all through the entry. There is also no way a gust of wind short of a hurricane would topple an air-frame the size of the shuttle and then to have it conveniently destroyed, well I cant stomach the story. This is really too bad because the basic premise of the story could have been very entertaining.

How could the performance have been better?

Have someone else write it.

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

Anger and a lot of disapointment.

Any additional comments?

The voices of the children were extremely anoiying.