The Emissary

A First Contact Novel

By: Michael J. Edwards

Narrated by: Alison Ewing

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

It wasn't the aliens she had to worry about; it was the humans.

A troubled young woman is recruited by a race of ancient alien explorers to be their emissary to save the human race from extinction. The problem is that not everyone believes the world is doomed, and not everyone trusts the aliens' motives. Holly Burton will have to overcome opposition from world leaders, attacks by religious zealots, assassination attempts, intractable bureaucracies, and her own fears and doubts if she is to save the human race, not just from the coming apocalypse, but from itself.

She will have to become a very different person to lead a remnant of humanity into space and become the architect of a new civilization. The question is: Can she use the extraordinary knowledge and abilities given to her without losing her own humanity in the process?

©2021 Michael J. Edwards (P)2022 Tantor

A great story, I can't wait to listen to more

I am eager to listen to more story's from the author, I enjoyed the performance of the storyteller as well.

Really, very good.

What a pleasant surprise. Good pacing and characters. Flubbed what constitutes early humans. But otherwise good.

Unique take on first contact

Loved the premise and direction of the story. It definitely captures the dysfunctional state of world affairs and paints a more realistic response to end of the world. I wished there was more detail. The novel jumps several years at a time bypassing interesting events/conflicts that would definitely have taken place. I found myself wondering how the author would have described those situations. Also, including characters that represented those left behind would have been a great complement to those who leave. Overall, very pleased to have listened to this unexpected find. Looking forward to the sequel! Trilogy?

Just a really great, and realistic SciFi story

I bought this on a whim. It sounded like it might be the 1st part of a series (and realistically, it could eventually be that), so I was worried about getting into something that might not ever be properly completed (i.e. with it left hanging). However, the story told in this book IS complete, even if the author never decides to expand on it.

Without giving any spoilers, it is a first-contact scenario, not set in some future century, but in an earth setting that is only a bit further out than now, when the political posture on the planet has been altered, and when humans have at least begun to take trips out into the outer solar system. There is a peril discovered that puts the earth at risk, and a first-contact event that results from that peril, and the story is about the events that play out over several decades, tied to all of those mentioned events.

I thought that the story was very well written, and I thought it was an excellent narration by Ewing. I was just disappointed when it ended, not because of a bad ending, but simply because I had enjoyed listening to it so much. I do hope that Edwards considers possible sequels, simply because it would be enjoyable to see where he might decide to take the story.

Bottom line, again, a great read, and if you do enjoy this genre, then I highly recommend it.

WHERE IS BOOK 2 ???!!!

It has been a minute since I found a good first contact sci fi story. FINALLY. Smart, thought provoking & original. Great follow through on the premise. No typical weird, gross, slimy reptilian aliens with hard to pronounce silly names. The main character is not perfect which makes her likeable. You care about the characters & wanna see the antagonist get their due. Would make a great movie. What's up Edwards? Where is book 2???

First Contact Intersects the New World Order

On a future Earth where America is an autocratic christian theocracy, the impending destruction of the planet is denied and saving humanity is left in the hands of a multidimensional alien and a hard partying professor. The difficulties that surround saving humanity in such an environment are explored thoroughly from geopolitical, technology and human perspectives and I found it to be a “can’t stop” listen.

Great story!

I really liked this book. The narrator was great. The only thing I didn’t like was the misogynistic view of the lead character. Why is it okay for men to sleep around and not for women? Just annoying. But beside that, I loved the book. I hope there is a second.

Very entertaining

So often, decent books NEVER show up as recommendations. This is free with Audible Plus but it was practically last on the list! It would have been worth a credit!

Interesting premise that failed to deliver

I wanted to quit this book early on, but I wanted to see how it ended. I should have quit when I felt like it.