Spaceside

By: Michael Mammay

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

From the author of Planetside, a Best Book of 2018 (Library Journal)

A military legend is caught in the web between alien intrigue and human subterfuge....

Following his mission on Cappa, Colonel Carl Butler returns to a mixed reception. To some, he is a do-or-die war hero. To the other half of the galaxy, he’s a pariah. Forced into retirement, he has resettled on Talca Four where he’s now Deputy VP of Corporate Security, protecting a high-tech military company on the corporate battlefield - at least, that’s what the job description says. Really, he’s just there to impress clients and investors. It’s all relatively low risk - until he’s entrusted with new orders. A breach of a competitor’s computer network has Butler’s superiors feeling every bit as vulnerable. They need Butler to find who did it, how, and why no one’s taken credit for the ingenious attack.

As accustomed as Butler is to the reality of wargames - virtual and otherwise - this one screams something louder than a simple hack. Because no sooner does he start digging when his first contact is murdered, the death somehow kept secret from the media. As a prime suspect, he can’t shake the sensation he’s being watched...or finally succumbing to the stress of his past. Paranoid delusion or dangerous reality, Butler might be onto something much deeper than anyone imagined. But that’s where Butler thrives.

If he hasn’t signed his own death warrant.

©2019 Michael Mammay (P)2019 HarperAudio

Just as Riviting as the 1st Book

Michael Mammay is a new "always buy" author for me. "Planetside" was really good and the sequel might be better. My only problem is knowing that I will have to wait too long for book #3.

Mammay & Bray are my new gritty-scifi Go-To

WOW.

Mammay & Bray are my new go-to for gritty sci-opera!

Gritty and personal, this story carries along an authentic inner monologue that fits with the moral yet cynical perspective of someone who actually stood on the wall.

The balance of story - narrative is amazingly well done. I mean, Bray is good, more than good, but Mammay created the best vehicle to date, for Bray's voice and style.

If you like the Galaxy's Edge crew of Cole, Anspach & Bray, but don't feel like reading a story with 10,000 parts all flying in close formation (I really like the whole GE dumpster fire, so this is not meant as a dig or anything negative) then read this series. This story is more personal and easier to follow along, with everything hanging off the main character.

It is absolutely necessary to read the first book.


...I can't wait for the next story from this dynamic duo!

Another great story and performance

I loved PlanetSide. I've listened to it several times and it never gets old. That's because it's a excellent story and great narrator.
Spaceside has the same ingredients. It's a completely unthought direction for book 2. It's works perfectly.
Do yourself a favor and buy it today

Very well done!

What a rollercoaster definitely a bit slow at first but the climb is essential to any exciting rollercoaster very pleased with the outcome and happy to see that Mammay didn't flinch in making an exceptional return to this series.

Nice hybrid of Sci-Fi and Detective genres

I enjoyed this book, as I did with the first book in the series. First, the narrator is excellent. It is hard to believe there was just one reader. If someone said there was a cast of voice actors I would believe it. Second, I like the first person approach used by the author. And I think the plot line is good -- enough twists and surprises to keeps things interesting but logical enough to let the reader (me at least) believe the story. And the main character is good -- kind of like the hard-boiled detectives of the film noir genre, as suggested in other reviews.

However, like the first novel, a lot of stuff happens in the last half hour and suddenly the novel ends. And this novel ends on kind of a cliff. Personally, i dislike that style of writing., although I understand the point of trying to get readers to buy the next novel in the series. Still, I prefer a complete ending, preferably with an epilogue that ties up the loose ends.

Drinks W/ Mammay, Butler & Mack after this!

Mammay, for some of your 1st published work I got to say that you're a good writer Brother 💪!

Stay strong, stay focused...This one doesn't fall completely into the genre, but your character development & personality nuance man I can't wait to see what flows from your pen next!

Although I love this series, definitely not what I'd call hardcore Scfi...Each book is more of a mystery thriller...

I'm very happy that I stumbled upon this Author & I'm waiting for what's next!

RC Bray 🤘🙌👍

Excellent story and performance

Love these audiobooks by Mike Mammay and narrated by RC Bray! Absolutely riveting, funny at times, and thought provoking.

2nd time

Just as good the 2nd time around. Combines detective work with eventual ground action. Aliens, suspense, corporate machinations, espionage, hacking, potato mines & cryo travel.

Happy to discover there's a third book in this series. I didn't even hesitate to part with one of my jealously hoarded credits to buy it - that's a true compliment to this, book 2 in the series, "Planetside."

I usually go for more of an action packed type of military sci-fi. Not sure how or why I started with this series, especially with the lackluster/misleading title & cover art, but am glad I did.

Michael Mammay's stories somehow suck me in & hold me on the edge of my seat, not knowing how they're going to turn out- even the 2nd time around. It had been awhile since I'd read it & usually a book comes back to me pretty early on & I'll remember it all, but not this time.

I was more than 1/2 way through before I realized I'd read this before, but even then I couldn't remember how it ended & wanted to keep listening to find out.

You might think it had to be so bad because it was forgettable, but that's not the case. A lot of books out nowadays are so formulaic that it's easy to guess the ending & know every step of the way how it will get there & I think that has a lot to do with how I remember them, but Spaceside was so much better & so unpredictable that I wasn't able to remember it.

I actually thought it was going to go a completely different way & when it didn't, I was so surprised I had to find out how it played out. Right up to the end I was still guessing.

If I had a complaint, the only thing I could say is I don't understand how the title & cover art relate to the story as 95-8%? of the story takes place planetside. but that doesn't stop the story from being as great as it is.

The ending was uncommitted, leaving you wondering what becomes of Colonel Butler? I usually hate cliffhangers, but this time, the ending was in line with the tone & feelings of the MC & the gravity of the situation. It seemed somehow fitting & just felt right.

Nonetheless, I had to immediately search for whether there was a book 3, buy it & wanted to start listening ASAP. First, though, I needed to leave a review. It's always easy to proclaim loudly when you don't like something, so, to me, it's just as important to let it be known when I really like something, too.

This book was special enough to warrant praise. I definitely recommend this book - even if you're not a big fan of intrigue, evil corporatations & illegal experimentation type of sci-fi, this is so well done, you can't help but get drawn in. It has a ground field operations, aliens & cool tech, too, so it covers a lot of sub genres in enough sci-fi categories to be able to attract & hold the attention of many, IMO.

Excellent narration from RC Bray, as always, he delivers a superb performance & is the delicious icing on an already tasty cake, making for a win-win combo.

Full of character, action, and sci-fi!

2nd book is great!! Lots of action. Can’t help but want to hear more! Gotta find out what happens to Carl.

Butler is back in the mix

And it's great! Better than the first I would say. This second book fixes the few issues I had with the first and improves on what it did right. Easy 5 stars.