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  • Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

  • By: Martin Wilsey
  • Narrated by: Andrew Tell
  • Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (6 ratings)
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Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1) cover art

Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

By: Martin Wilsey
Narrated by: Andrew Tell
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Summary

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?

©2015 Martin Wilsey (P)2015 Martin Wilsey

What listeners say about Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

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Excellent !!!

Another masterpiece was discovered writing by Martin Wilsey and together with Andrew Tell a perfect story was born.

Once I started listening to this audiobook I just couldn’t put it down , forget sleeping I just had to keep going and after 15 hours I want more !

Truly was worth it and I fully with all my heart
Recommend this book to all.


Even so that I got this audiobook for free I believe that I reviewed it honestly.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A full belly, warm bed and another day

When the survey ship Venture is unexpectedly destroyed by a defence system, Barcus and his critically injured friend barely escape to the planet's surface and, with the death of his companion, he is alone with only his escape module's AI (Em) and a couple of other aspects to help him. Winter is coming and he needs to prepare. The planet has a small population, scattered villages, still fairly primative, which are being systematically wiped out with almost no resistance. Angered by this and his own sense of loss of his fleet companions, Barcus rescues two young people, a woman and a youth, and learns of the barbaric treatment they endure under their masters, the Keepers, including, for women, no right ever to say no to any command, under pain of death. Theirs is the brutal life of a slave even lower than a hunting dog. Whilst still always hoping to one day escape this world and revenge the deaths of his colleagues, Barcus meanwhile turns his desire for revenge initially on the Keepers.

The book is well written with an excellent opening, full of interest and action, with good characterisation and world building. However, about of a third of the way into the story, the author turns his attention to the minutiae of daily domestic life withing the refuge that is being established and the gentle love growing between Barcus and the woman first rescued. Although initially interesting, as the action slowed, so did the attention of this reader who was then unable to fully commit to the story again even after the action and intrigue resumed.. Interspersed throughout the main tale, however, were brief excerpts from a future document, Solstice 31, Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript, which suggest that there is
something terrible to come.

Narration by Andrew Tell is first class, his reading well modulated, pacing good and the presentation aligned nicely with the text. Each character has a distinctive voice so that it is easy to forget that this is the work of a lone narrator. Mr.Tell's performance adds to the already good writing of the author. and enjoyment of the book as a whole.

I knew nothing of the book's content when I requested via Audiobook Boom and was freely gifted by the rights holder, a complimentary copy of Still Falling, Thank you. Despite my reservation mentioned above, I enjoyed the fairly lengthy listen and remain intrigued as to what happens next. I will be looking out for a follow-up book as the story is certainly not over.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I didn't predict that ending.

Although I enjoyed this story and it was well written and involving it so suddenly.

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