Solstice 31

The Solstice 31 Saga, Books 1-3

By: Martin Wilsey

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

Barcus is a working stiff looking for a good paycheck. When the Ventura and its crew enter orbit for a scheduled planet survey, the ship activates an automated defense system protecting the planet. Although the Ventura is destroyed in the attack, Barcus alone survives the harrowing fall to the remote planet surface. He struggles to remain alive and sane and to discover why everyone he knew and loved on the Ventura was deliberately murdered.

Swinging between despair and fury, Barcus discovers that for every answer he obtains, there are more questions raised. Barcus is assisted by the Emergency Module, Em, his most useful tool. It is an artificial intelligence system contained in an all-terrain vehicle specifically designed to help him survive. Barcus soon finds himself in the middle of a planetary genocide of the local native population. He is unable to stand passively by as more people die, even if they are long lost colonists who fear "the Man from Earth" like children fear the monster under their bed.

Will Barcus ever find his way home? Will he find out who is responsible? Will his rage just burn this world down? Or will he find his soul in the eyes of a starving, frightened woman?

©2018 Martin Wilsey (P)2018 Martin Wilsey

Original and refreshing

Martin Wilsey put together an intriguing story. I like the way he incorporates the old with the new and the twist that comes at the end of the story. Full of action, adventure and romance.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Sprawling, Epic, Space Opera

I really liked this series.

The first book is a survivor's story, in the vein of Robinson Caruso, with Roland Barkus believing he is the only survivor when his space ship, the Ventura, is blown out of the sky after entering orbit around an unknown planet. The world he finds himself in is an odd mix of old technology and medieval society and he soon finds himself the savior and protector of this world's innocents.

The second book reveals that Barkus was not the only survivor and we get to meet other survivors and learn stories, from Jimbo and his team that are stuck on the moon to Rand who, like Barkus, survived crashing to the surface. And the political intrigue jumps up a notch as we start to realize that something sinister is going on with the powers that be.

The third book brings everything to a climax on Earth on the night of the Winter Solstice when something terrible happens.

Throw into the mix an ancient race of immortal beings that are terraforming planets and rogue Artificial Intelligences, and you have the making of a long, complicated story.

This is the second story I've listened to by Martin Wilsey and I like his knack for creating interesting characters and then throwing them to the wolves. There are plenty of reprehensible characters who do reprehensible things such as murder, rape and torture, but I never felt like it was over the top or that we were meant to condone it. Certainly, the main characters do not and Barkus himself is such a kind soul that it angers him just to see people being mistreated.

Give it a listen but be aware that the story changes gears across the three books.

Nice in slow in beginning then hold on

it was pretty good in the beginning then the story sped up quite a bit and was little difficult to keep track of all but the main characters. I'd buy any further books. Will make you wish we could live in such fictional times with such technologies.

good story, awkward dialog

The story was good and performance fine, but the dialog seemed awkward at times. I also got lost at times.

One of my favorites

I’ve enjoyed these novels several times over the years and they still hold my rapt interest each time. The characters, each are vibrant and for lack of a better word Real. World development and storyline consistent throughout and Andrew Tell a excellent narrator. Would love to see intertwining stories from the POV of the other characters.

Complicated but engrossing.

You have to pay attention to this and may have to replay to follow the story but it's Space Opera at its best.

Loved loved loved!

Before listening to this series, I have read only one other sci-fi fantasy series (that was way more on the fantasy side) in my life. Sci-Fi has never held any attraction for me. I’m even anti-Star Wars. That being said, let’s begin my review!

I took a chance with this series and I’m very glad I did. Wilsey’s world building and character development is flawless skill of his. In the mass of characters, I had favorites ones, relatable ones, as well as some I’d curl my lip to. Having never read a true sci-fi book, I was worried this series would be over my head, but Wilsey is a patient writer and takes the time to explain, in detail, all the advanced technologies and other worlds. It was brilliant.

The twists and turns kept me guessing, and at one point, I even sent a message to the author, taking a stab in the dark at who the antagonist was because I was dying to know if I had guessed right. To my dismay, he wouldn’t tell me, but I had fun discovering it on my own. I was right *sniffs and brushes shoulder*, but only a little right. The series plot was MUCH grander and way more intricate than I had originally thought it was, which was pleasantly surprising.

violent towards women. weird militia undertone

Some NRA wackos found a word processor. A lot of angry, violent rape. Some attempt at a political message that is completely upside down.

Starts out well, loses direction.

The books are entertaining as a survival / science fiction story, but it doesn't do well when it tries to transition to a space opera / epic. Book 1 stays on focus and tells a coherent story. Book 2 stays within the same scenario, but is told from a different perspective. Book 3 goes off the rails when the story moves off-planet.
The plot progession is constantly being second-guessed by main characters that can see the future and it seperates you from the story. You listen to what is happening, while being distracted wondering why this occurs when they can see the future. I really feel that it would have been a much better story if the characters didn't have that ability. I didn't finish it when I quit caring because it became so muddled.

SPOILERS
The dialog also sounded forced and out of place. For example, that far in the future on other planets with hyperdrive technology, do people still call each other 'ass-wipe' as a term of friendship?

There were also some gratiutous sex and rape/sadism that didn't add to the story. I didn't need to hear it to realize the bad guys were really bad.