Gabriel's Redemption

Evan Gabriel Trilogy, Book 1

By: Steve Umstead

Narrated by: Ray Chase

"A cast of interesting and believable characters and a plot that kept me listening…I enjoyed the author's take on technology and the political landscape of the future. Definitely recommended!" (Michael R. Hicks, bestselling author of the In Her Name science-fiction/adventure series and the bestselling thriller Season of the Harvest).

North American Federation Navy Commander Evan Gabriel was dishonorably discharged after a disastrous mission on a far off world called Eden. He's spent the last five years hiding from his past, from those responsible for the failed mission, from those responsible for running him out of the Navy, and from those originally responsible for making him into who he was - a highly-trained, physically and mentally augmented Special Forces soldier.

Two mysterious visitors appear unannounced at the door of a Gabriel's seedy hotel room in the slums of Jamaica. His past has finally caught up with him. From the decaying Caribbean to politically charged South America, from the back alleys of Mars to a tiny colony on a planet 600 light years from Earth, Gabriel's Redemption is a near-future military science-fiction story of a personal journey seen from the perspective of a soldier who has lost everything - one who desperately needs to redeem himself not only in his government's eyes, but also his own. Interstellar action and political intrigue mix with one-on-one battles on the surface of a frozen planet in Book One of the science fiction-adventure trilogy.

©2011 Steve Umstead (P)2013 Podium Publishing

Critic reviews

"Umstead can write an action-packed adventure story better than most. He is an artist in designing a high-tech battlefield and weaving in the human element with his character's depth and color. If you like action in a science fiction setting then you really need to pick this up from Book One and give it a shot." (Tom Clementson, The Kindle Book Review)

"This series brings me back to the old days when sci-fi was about ass kicking, great friends, loyalty and action." (Amazon Reviewer)

Great story, the narrator....not so much

What made the experience of listening to Gabriel's Redemption the most enjoyable?

The storyline is good, lots of forward thinking on future technology.

What did you like best about this story?

Likeable protagonist.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

No. I mean no offence to the narrator; however the fluctuations in his voice makes the book sound like a really cheap used car commercial.

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

No

Any additional comments?

I really wanted to like this book, I just could not get passed the narration...sorry.

Intense!

I am loving this series!! Evan has had a rough few yrs & is hiding out in obscurity. Until he is 'drafted' back into service. Several surprises good and bad give him closure and set his life on a new course. And I LOVE Ray Chase's voice. It is perfect for these stories.

Fun and high Entertainment, I Loved it !!

Any additional comments?

Gabriel is that fallen hero who lost everything he worked for as a special operations officer. This former elite military man must take on one more mission for the man who brought him down in order to redeem his career and restore faith in himself. Gabriel knows there is more behind the mission than he’s been told but he’s surrounded by a team he knows nothing about. With no allies, Gabriel will have to follow his instincts in order to bring himself and his team back alive.Gabriel is flawed by the universal politics and ambitions of the power brokers in this world. He is a tool, an instrument whose race to uncover a truth will completely reshape the universe one way or another. With only a finite amount of time, he must flush out the villains nearest him and expose their masters amongst the elite. More than his own skill and intuition, Gabriel must learn who to trust others because these are monumental tasks he cannot do along.Gabriel’s Redemption is hard-core science fiction with plenty of gadgets and adrenaline to keep the synapses firing while you turn the pages all night long. The world Steve has created is rich in detail and full of advanced technology: pulse weapons, neurotic brain implants, wormholes, inter-stellar travel, everything a scifi fan could hope for. I highly recommend it to anybody who loves science fiction or military-style action because this has plenty of both. I couldn’t put it down. Ray Chase delivers a perfect narration, I just loved his many voices. I am so looking forward to the next book in this very entertaining trilogy. :)

On to the next!

After catching book 0 for free here on audible I had to check out the series! so far I'm enjoying this story, definitely going to hit up the next one :)

I'm rating this with four stars simply because there's a section near the end I had trouble following, unsure of what character was which at times... other than this the story & narration were great!

bad reader

What made the experience of listening to Gabriel's Redemption the most enjoyable?

I will always check to make sure this guy never reads another story to me. He ruined the story, I actually couldn't listen to more than one chapter.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gabriel's Redemption?

I honestly couldn't tell you, the reader sounded "creepy"

What didn’t you like about Ray Chase’s performance?

very bad

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

no

Any additional comments?

enough said

A guilty pleasure...

A guilty pleasure that goes well whil I am packing boxes and scanning crap at work.

Great story, but starts in middle

With a title that includes redemption, you have to realize something bad has already happened to the main character. This story picks up a few years after the free prologue. Evan Gabrielle has a military career and one terribly botched mission. It's a bit awkward starting at this point, but the author managed to pull me in.

Such a good one

I read the short prelude to this story and got hooked on Gabriel’s story. There was so much to delve into and this book did not disappoint! I’m looking forward to reading book two.

One of few can’t recommend

Almost quit in first half, which is rare for me, it was that bad, got better with action. Other viewers are right, trial was a joke. Catch 22 they would punish him whether he followed unlawful/lawful orders or not. Overall one of few I can’t recommend. Preview of second just goes to show this series doesn’t get better. If you like first book good luck to you with rest of series. I’m out.

Doesn't go well with the prequel.

If you've read the prequel, this provides more questions in your mind, then it answers, even providing contradiction. As a stand alone story, Gabriel seems slow to respond to obvious danger. Additionally, the protagonist isn't supposed to be so burned-out in the first novel! He's out maneuvered at every turn, and it's his team that comes through, not him. Additionally, the back story left a lot to be desired!