Sleeping Gods Boxed Set

Books 1-2

By: Ralph Kern

Narrated by: Shaun Grindell, Jeffrey Kafer, Michael Kramer

Endeavor

Since we first looked at the stars, there has been a silence, no signs of alien life, and no one who has tried to speak to us. It is an enigma that a long-dead scientist called the Fermi Paradox.

"Where are they?" A brave crew will take humanity's first starship, Endeavour, on an epic journey that spans light years and centuries to solve this mystery. As Commander Tom Hites and his crew searches amid long-abandoned worlds and ancient relics, the question they seek to answer becomes: "Where are they now?"

Erebus

The sparsely populated moon Io is destroyed in a terrorist attack. Hundreds are dead in the cataclysmic explosion. Thousands become refugees as the shattered remnants of the moon threaten the Jupiter Alliance. Billions throughout the solar system are wondering, "Where next?"

Those responsible must be found and brought to justice. The explorer ship Erebus is reassigned from its mission and sent to Jupiter to investigate this atrocity with Trent's international team onboard. And what Trent discovers among the relics of the alien Sleeping Gods will change humanity's place in the universe forever.

©2013, 2015, 2016 Ralph Kern (P)2021 Tantor

Gripping Even Though It Is Long

The first two books in this box set are set in the same universe but feel very different. I like them both. The first is a very solid Sci-Fi story which drops clues for the next. The second is almost like a murder mystery in the beginning.

Endeavor, the first book, is of exploration sprinkled throughout with different narratives from multiple perspectives, some very distinctive, that tell an overall story. Even though it doesn't answer everything by the end it definitely feels like a complete book. I enjoyed hearing about all the various discoveries.

Erebus, the second book, pinch zooms at a period of time referenced in the first book. You learn more about some of the places referenced before and see some discoveries not mentioned in the first. There was a building sense of menace through the whole book. Some of the ideas in the first book are central to how that menace will be averted. I didn't feel the ending left me satisfied however.

The bonus content book feels like it's written by a completely different author. It's a pretty good example of a space opera, which is not my favorite genre. Though it starts slow, the author grips you very well by the middle. I thought it explored the loss of comrades and the cost of war very well.

Only for the first two stories

As others have mentioned, it was a great surprise to find an author I have not attempted before to have such a great entertaining story... The second book was also fun, perhaps just not as novel. The third book is only for those if you who like military scifi... Quite tiring otherwise

Its a weird set

I loved first two books even though the story is not directly linked. Great story and great narration. They introduced unique universe and built expectations. However the third book doesn't match the set. Its like it was added by mistake. That was a major letdown. For me the story feels unfinished.

Book 1 9/10
Book 2 9/10
Book 3 4/10

As a set, it was so so

The first book was great with the scientific exploration and Michael Kramer reading. There were some spots that it was odd but overall a good book. The second book didn’t seem to have any more than a passing mention of the first book, had no real science and the reader wasn’t nearly as good. The third book was just thrown in and wasn’t very good at all, although that might have been because I spent the whole time trying to figure out how it tied in to the other books. Overall I will give it three stars because the story and performance from the first book carried the load.

1 good 1 bad

Endeavor was great! Excellent story and well read.

Erebus, not so much. Couldn’t finish it. Story was boring and the reader is just awful.

Highly recommend Endeavor
Skip Erebus

Story...ehhh

the story is only passable AT BEST! The narration though, is absolutely atrocious!!!!! Totally un-listenable!!!!

um... I'm confused

Apparently, the story takes place in the future; however, why do the characters sound like they're from 1800s England? I don't know. I'm going to keep trying. I'm only a couple of hours in - I will update when I'm done.

UPDATE: I tried, and I just can not take it. Every character sounds ridiculous. People just do not talk like this - it's distracting. it's hard to listen to, and it's actually getting me a little bit angry. It's a shame because I kind of like the story. I mean, it's hard scifi, and at times, my mind wanders off, but for the most part, it's a good story. It would be much better if the characters sounded realistic, like actual people and not cartoons. Unfortunately, I might have to return this.

Total waste of time

It’s free so you get what you paid for even if it’s just pure garbage

2 distantly related stories and 1 way out in left field

First book was great, second was good but only related by an event barely mentioned in the 1st book that leads to an exciting cliff hanger. The 3rd book is a completely different story completely unrelated to the first 2. I’m convinced it’s here by mistake.