The Masi'shen crash-landed on Antarctica 2,000 years ago. Their ship lies under the ice on a volcanic island. It has been detected by a spy satellite. The U.S. government, the Russian mafia, and volunteer rescuers race to get there first.
Size: 714 KB (128,588 words)
Genre: Science Fiction
Sex Contents: No Sex
Tags: Magic, Science Fiction, Space
Review by manddscott [other reviews by manddscott]
Reviewed:
I found this little gem somehow several months ago and finally got around to reading it. Working less than 80 hours per week may have helped.
Some strange readings from technology deployed in the Antarctic region cause a small team to be sent to do more investigating. A harsh accident leaves the one survivor of the team injured, while the government that sent him there abandons him in the belief that he is dead. It turns out that the strange readings are from an alien ship that crashed on Earth more than 2,000 years before, and its crew has been hiding out in the Antarctic ever since. Their communications gear was damaged by the accident which brought them to our world, and the savagery of mankind has left them hiding out rather than trying to secure materials to repair the ship. The survivor of the expedition is saved by the aliens, and the ensuing story regales us with his struggle to save them in return. This story has no sex, although it does appear to have a communion of the souls.
For plot, I give this an outstanding 10. The characters are developed well, even with their flaws. The storyline shows at least a semi-believable (given that disbelief must be suspended) set of struggles for the MC to get rescued, get the items the aliens need, and get back to deliver it to them. There is a slight question in there of "why didn't they just do this" which goes unanswered, but it did not distract from the overall storyline.
Technically, another Outstanding 10. I did not find many errors at all, and those there did not distract at all from the storyline.
For personal appeal, another 10. This story did not have any sex. If you're looking for that, don't bother. It did have, however, a melding of souls, which is attractive to the romantics amongst us. I loved the way in which it combined aliens, Native American Mysticism, and even politics to tell its tale. I can't say much more without giving it away, so I will stop there. I am anxiously looking forward yo reading the sequel also available on SOL.
Review by pj [other reviews by pj]
Reviewed: - (Review Updated: )
Reviewer NOTE: This is written as of Chapter 7, on December 16, '11.
As in all reviews, anywhere, it is purely my point of view at the time the review was written.
pj
We are blessed with another ripping good yarn.
If you love Stargate Atlantis, Clive Cussler's 'Dirk Pitt' adventures and Michael Crichton's science fiction, you will probably really like this story. After all you get to read it free and as it is written. I'll be perfectly frank and say it is a little derivative but so are about 95% of every offering on the shelves. That doesn't detract in the least from the appeal of the story.
Buried under the ice of Antarctica is a massive ship which beached itself there following a cataclysmic disaster while in routine exploration. It has been there patiently waiting for a rescue party for over 2000 years.
Unlike 'Atlantis', though... these Ancients are still in the ship.
Unfortunately for them, these aliens display every bit of the hubris and lethargy many of us long-time readers of the genre assume they would. Like the Ancients in Stargate they have evolved themselves to near extinction.
- A hint of this is borne out early by their reaction when any hint of war or violence is brought to mind, so to speak.
In other words, if earthlings discover them they are probably dead meat, since they lack any semblance of the instinct of self preservation.
They're pretty freakin' lazy, too. That's my opinion with what I know so far. And I don't doubt many other readers will conclude the same. That does not detract, either. In fact it is pretty damn refreshing.
Their only hope is in a human who was himself stranded when sent on a mission to find out the nature of a mysterious gravitational anomaly, ie; their own ship.
On the technical side, I had just a few minor quibbles with the way the author dealt with military terminology..50 years ago we didnt say C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion when we were talking about those aircraft. A character who is familiar with them doing so reads 'clunky'.
That aside.. this story has everything I want. International intrigue, races against time, getting to know diverse peoples, and skullduggery out the kazoo. And it's just starting!
In fact, to me the worst thing about the story is probably the title.
This is one of those where I don't care if it's got any sexual content at all... I do suspect there will be some Romance.
And that's enough.
Read it, the TPA scores are accurate!
