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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna
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Freeman’s novel centers on the LunaCola H2Liftship and her diverse crew. H2L crafts are powered by hydrogen balloons, rockets, and enormous solar sails, and when readers meet the LunaCola, she’s on a run to Earth from the moon with a minimal crew. That includes the captain, Grace, who’s old-school: “she was not the ‘ho, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum’ type, but still could squeeze everything out the sails, and sometimes the crew.” There’s the first mate, an octopus who has no name that his crew mates can understand (“ripples of red and ochre moved up and down his body, as if guiding the ship along its path through the cosmos”). And foremost in the narrative are the ship’s other crew members: an orangutan named Tang and a dog named Jack, both genetically engineered for higher cognition and speech. As the narrative unfolds, readers follow Jack and Tang on their Earth adventures; Tang is an enthusiastic gambler and has long dreamed of playing at his personal mecca, Las Vegas. Freeman describes his four crewbeings’ time on Earth and then moves the plot outward, following the H2Liftship on its customary routes from terra firma out to the asteroid belt and back, ferrying goods and raw materials—a familiar SF premise that calls to mind James S.A. Corey’s popular Expanse novels, and one that Freeman exploits with verve and maximum readability. Early on, he tells his readers “the story is a wrapper for the addendum, sometimes it works that way”—but it’s rare that it does so in a novel that’s worth reading. Fortunately, his worldbuilding is energetic and intriguing enough to keep readers turning pages. Along the way, Freeman lays on exposition in layers that are almost, but not quite, heavy enough to crush the dramatic momentum. By contrast, Tang and Jack feel somewhat underdeveloped, but the exotic details of their world overcome that obstacle, as well.
A long-winded but compelling comic adventure.
— Kirkus Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun on a bun
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
H2LiftShips is a weird but delightful book. It's different from everything else on the market. It falls short in many traditional ways we judge books: the plot is thin, and the characters don't develop more. But still, I couldn't put this one down. It's a hard sci-fi instruction booklet on how to operate a trading vessel. The crew includes a genetically modified dog, a similarly souped-up chimp, and a genius octopus at navigator. The setting the author describes (a near-future solar system with colonies) is feasible, and the adventures the crew of the LunaCola find along the way are pretty fun. In the middle, there's an abrupt perspective switch to an almost homeless asteroid worker named Ponos, who works nearly every gig job. In each little story, the reader learns more about the practical side of space travel. The author has a quirky writing style. I've rarely encountered the word "ungulates" in a sci-fi text, and he's done it more than once. But what can I say? It works.
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Aimee Ann - Red Headed Book Lover
H2LiftShips, a tech manual for a future imagine a world, exactly like ours, but different part Road-Trip, part solar sailing, always with food, gambling, jail, and pirates, not necessarily in that order No: Aliens, Monsters, blasters, pyrotechnic computers, or Anti-Grav powered rockets. Yes: Lasers, Primates, Canines, Octopus, Space Travel via Solar Sails, and the rare Rocket Ship.No violence, except for the spinning meat bolas and asteroid pebbles coming to the defense of their home rock.
Beyond Luna is an exciting, thrilling, and compelling unique science fiction tale that will take the reader on an epic and unforgettable journey! Beyond Luna is the sensational first book in the H2LiftShips series that takes the reader on a crazy ride like no other! From the first page, I was enchanted by the author’s incredible words and this is all thanks to Bob Freeman’s addictive plot and extraordinary characters! That is why already I have to implore you lovely readers to read this book! However, if you need more convincing then continue to read to learn more about the incredible Beyond Luna!
Beyond Luna is a sensational novel that will take its readers on an action-packed, thrilling journey. The reader in Beyond Luna will be introduced to a host of unique characters aboard a spaceship as it travels across space and time and what unfolds aboard the ship and throughout space will keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat until the very last page! It makes for a fascinating and thrilling story, one that is full of many memorable moments and plenty of action and drama and will leave you excited for the rest of the series and this book lovers is the short premise of the wonderful Beyond Luna!
Beyond Luna is an incredible sci-fi story that places the reader right in the thick of the story without issue and makes you invest in the book quickly! This is the power of the author’s words; Bob Freeman is a rare talent because he manages to grab the reader’s attention effortlessly and quickly! Freeman truly is an incredible author who has created a fantastic, brilliant story and it is evident to me that Freeman has invested so much thought and time into his book because it is perfectly executed and full of vibrant, descriptive scenes!
The story of Beyond Luna is quite simply amazing; amazing however is just one of the words I would use to describe Beyond Luna as it is so much more than this. It is a fascinating tale laced with many incredible moments that will captivate, shock, and thrill its readers, while these elements are also woven around a sensational tale that will have you on the edge of your seat. It makes for a memorable reading experience full of many ups and downs and will have you saying ”just one more page!” as it is that incredible book lovers.
Bob Freeman, the author of Beyond Luna does an incredible job of piecing together his story and weaving it into a fantastic book of intrigue and entertainment. Freeman is a phenomenal writer because he is dedicated to his work as well as passionate. Freeman’s passion shines off the page and into the reader’s mind. Freeman’s sometimes lengthy, beautiful descriptions will send the reader’s mind into visual overdrive, the reader will be able to perfectly imagine every detail the reader comes across and that in my opinion, is the sign of a talented author!
To conclude my thoughts on the incredible novel that is Beyond Luna; I would say if you are a reader who is tired of reading lackluster novels then take a chance with Beyond Luna; because I promise you now that you will not be disappointed! Beyond Luna gets five stars from me! So be sure to have a read of the preview below book lovers, you won’t regret it!
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Donovans Literary Services Septemeber 2022 Issue
http://donovansliteraryservices.com/september-2022-issue.html
Space opera used to be a very popular genre, but in recent decades, it seems to have fallen by the wayside somewhat. Sci-fi readers of all ages who mourn this loss and look for contemporary space opera stories rich in action, humor, and description will find this first book in the H2LiftShips series, Beyond Luna, captures a milieu set in a parallel futuristic universe of solar ships, military engagements, and post-apocalyptic wonder.
Here, Solar Sail cargo ships operate in the asteroid belt. One such vessel is the LunaCola, whose crew makes a business of scavenging supplies from Earth and gambling at the casino to fund their existence and lifestyle.
This pursuit often brings them into conflict with pirates, authorities, and the law. It also introduces them to unusual scenarios that test their abilities and loyalties.
Bob Freeman provides a fitting disclosure of the type of reader who may (and may not) be attracted to this world: "If you enjoy long, complex lead-ins as part of a world-building story, this series is for you. Otherwise, maybe try something lighter and flashy ... What you will find is some gambling, drinking, passive-aggressive families, lying, stealing, and double-dealing, e.g. normal sentients, mostly nice, but watch your back."
Merriam-Webster defines space opera as "...a futuristic melodramatic fantasy involving space travelers and extraterrestrial beings."
While this description is too often augmented by the note that space opera can be notoriously simplistic and often represents bad writing, Freeman's series defies this notion by offering a setting, circumstances, and developments that test his characters' ability to survive and grow on different levels.
All this is set against the backdrop of action, encounters with a variety of sentients who harbor their own special interests, and a crew that handles high tech and high controversy with equal skill.
As for the 'post-apocalyptic' piece, it should be noted that this universe isn't exactly suffering for its origins and influences, but presents a surprisingly positive picture of revised lives and new worlds.
Freeman incorporates many vivid descriptions of this futuristic technology and milieu into a story that is richer for the time taken to explore these foundations: "Tang was overjoyed to hear that the Luna launch would be by laser boost. The ship was too heavy for the ski jump and if they tried a kite launch, they would probably be dragged into a mountain or crater before breaking free from Luna's gravity."
The result both supports the rollicking adventure-forward nature of the space opera genre while expanding its boundaries into the realm of solid writing, vivid descriptions, and unexpected encounters between sentients and humans.
Sci-fi fans of the space opera genre who look for strong action and, especially, attention to a sense of place and high-tech worlds will relish Beyond Luna's ability to bring to the table a different sense of scientific wonder and development, all wrapped into a story that flavors its action with more than a light dose of humor for added value.
Book Review of Beyond Luna by Anthionette Ejimofor
Bob Freeman's Beyond Luna is a 323-page science fiction novel about space travel and exploration. It's also the first book in the H2Liftships trilogy, followed by "A Backstory" and the final book in the series, "Bosons Wave."
Written in the narrative perspective, Beyond Luna begins with an overview of mankind's history with space exploration, a history that animals are largely a great part of. It further delves into the main story, of which the ship Luna Cola and her crew take centre stage.
The book tells of the adventures of this magnificent space ship and her all-encompassing crew, captained by Grace and their encounters with natural factors such as zeroG (zero gravity) as well as not so natural factors like Captain Mykolas.
Would the Luna Cola be able to surmount these obstacles, and what role did other ships play in the story?
The most captivating thing about this book was the author's thoughtfulness in incorporating animal characters in the story. This was both distinctive and considerate, as he gave thorough credit to the role animals have played in man's exploits in space. Even more enthralling was the character development of the animal characters, especially Jack and Tang, as well as the massive role both played as crew members in Luna Cola, and of course, the book in general. Indeed, they were both the story's star characters, as well as mine.
The only negative aspect about Beyond Luna, is that it's not an all comers kind of book. Bob's creativity in both the storyline and character development is truly mind boggling, however, it's a book that can only be enjoyed by lovers and devotees of science fiction and books that are unconventional. Sci-fi literature is an exclusive niche, and Bob Freeman in more ways than one, redefined exclusive in this book.
In my opinion, Bob Freeman ticks all the boxes in this book. Great plot, beautiful and exceptional character development, an amazing work of editing, and a coherent storyline, which made the flow of the story from beginning to end all the more enjoyable. As such, Beyond Luna is certainly a five star book.
Furthermore, Beyond Luna is one of a kind. Encompassing action, adventure, puzzling, hilarious, mental stimulating, thrill, and suspense, all in one book. It is a book I'd love to recommend to everyone, yet sadly, I cannot. But if you do love the challenge of pushing your mind to embracing the beyond conventional, then Beyond Luna is a definite must-read. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
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Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman Reviewed by Prosper Onyido Dec 2022
Have you ever imagined what it'd feel like, to get an exclusive VIP front seat, on a life defining sojourn across the galaxies?
Do you dream of being able to almost reach out and touch the stars?
Such a wonderful experience is possible, and believe it, at almost no cost, because Bob Freeman has made that world possible, all at his own expense.
Bob Freeman's Beyond Luna, the first book in his spellbinding H2Liftships series, is the story of the adventure of a little known spaceship, Luna Cola on her and her crew's self defining journey across space and time. It revolves around the crew of the ship, from their Captain, the resilient and determined Graciela Lucerne, the Canine Deck Hand, the effusive Jack San Freedog Jr. (who believe it or not, is an Australian Shepherd) and the Biped Deck Hand, Tangsapor Kewellan Candrey (an orangutan) alongside other sentients. Together, these intelligent beings would have an adventure that encompasses every bit of drama, action, comedy, even a touch of romance.
The most interesting aspect to this book, was the author's attention to detail. This was evident in the detailed depiction of the different crews aboard a spaceship and the pinpoint precision with which they manned their posts and performed their duties can be likened to the choreography of ballerinas.
Another interesting feature of Beyond Luna, was the narrative style with which the book began, with a background story of man's history with space travel and exploration and the progress made so far, before delving into the actual story, this for me made it a lot easier to grasp the ideas portrayed within the book and the series at large. As not just a one-off story, but one that immerses itself in the chronology of the science of space exploration.
Beyond Luna is an impeccably written and edited book, as there were no errors whatsoever. This further increased my overall enjoyment of the book.
It goes without saying that Sci-fi is a literary niche, reserved for those willing to dare to test their imaginations. And Bob in no small way, tested our imaginations, while also entertaining our minds.
This is a book and series every person should read, because in the words of Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." There is no more appropriate description of the H2Liftships series, than these words.
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Book Review of Beyond Luna by Anthionette Ejimofor Oct, 2022
Bob Freeman's Beyond Luna is a 323-page science fiction novel about space travel and exploration. It's also the first book in the H2Liftships trilogy, followed by "A Backstory" and the final book in the series, "Bosons Wave."
Written in the narrative perspective, Beyond Luna begins with an overview of mankind's history with space exploration, a history that animals are largely a great part of. It further delves into the main story, of which the ship Luna Cola and her crew take centre stage.
The book tells of the adventures of this magnificent space ship and her all-encompassing crew, captained by Grace and their encounters with natural factors such as zeroG (zero gravity) as well as not so natural factors like Captain Mykolas.
Would the Luna Cola be able to surmount these obstacles, and what role did other ships play in the story?
The most captivating thing about this book was the author's thoughtfulness in incorporating animal characters in the story. This was both distinctive and considerate, as he gave thorough credit to the role animals have played in man's exploits in space. Even more enthralling was the character development of the animal characters, especially Jack and Tang, as well as the massive role both played as crew members in Luna Cola, and of course, the book in general. Indeed, they were both the story's star characters, as well as mine.
The only negative aspect about Beyond Luna, is that it's not an all comers kind of book. Bob's creativity in both the storyline and character development is truly mind boggling, however, it's a book that can only be enjoyed by lovers and devotees of science fiction and books that are unconventional. Sci-fi literature is an exclusive niche, and Bob Freeman in more ways than one, redefined exclusive in this book.
In my opinion, Bob Freeman ticks all the boxes in this book. Great plot, beautiful and exceptional character development, an amazing work of editing, and a coherent storyline, which made the flow of the story from beginning to end all the more enjoyable. As such, Beyond Luna is certainly a five star book.
Furthermore, Beyond Luna is one of a kind. Encompassing action, adventure, puzzling, hilarious, mental stimulating, thrill, and suspense, all in one book. It is a book I'd love to recommend to everyone, yet sadly, I cannot. But if you do love the challenge of pushing your mind to embracing the beyond conventional, then Beyond Luna is a definite must-read. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
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BookShine and ReadBows
Review: This was definitely a very unusual read!
Written in tech-manual style, the ‘story’ describes the science behind the futuristic imagined world, its politics, its transport and trading mechanisms, the technical workings of the ship, and finally, the crew – the Captain, the First Mate (octopus), Jack (canine) and Tang (simian).
The last few chapters comprise some mundane anecdotes about Jack and Tang, as they work, take leisure time and socialise. Other than that, there is no overall plot or direction. The whole books is a backstory or scene-setting of the world and characters, presumably in preparation for future adventures.
As a result, it felt more like the first few chapters of a space opera or sci-fi adventure, rather than an entire story in its own right, and it ended rather abruptly just as the characters were starting to feel familiar.
Incredibly well-written and packed with fascinating details, I feel this would make a great bonus or companion volume to a more plot or character-led novel.
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Book Review of Book 1 of the H2LiftShips Series, "Beyond Luna."
by Goodness Nwaogazie
Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman is a Sci-fi novel about space exploration. It is the first book in the H2LiftShips series, the others being “A Backstory” and “Bosons Wave”.
While Beyond Luna talks of a lot of other spaceships, the core of the story centers around the voyage of LunaCola and her efficient multi-specie crew of humans, canines (dogs), simians, and a cephalopod (octopus), especially the star characters, Jack San Freedog Jr. (an Australian Shepherd) and Tangsapor Kewellan Candrey (an orangutan). The book creates a vivid image of what exploring life beyond Earth is like, especially when aboard a spaceship where one slip or error can mean doom and certain death. So every crew member; Captain, First Mate, Boost Crew, Compressor Crew, Pumper Crew, and Rocket Maintenance Crew, are all responsible for each other’s lives.
Unlike most Sci-fi writers, Bob Freeman truly goes beyond the ordinary in this book. He indeed takes our minds on a celestial expedition, breaking the shackles of limitations and embracing the endless possibilities of what science fiction is. His immersion of humans alongside animals in the book is indeed one that stretches the mind to accept that science fiction believes in all possibilities. Even more, his use of the animal characters as the major characters in the story is reminiscent of an artist who is willing to dare to be exceptional in his art, and Bob Freeman showed exceptionality with aplomb.
Beyond Luna is a captivating story of the quest of man, alongside animals, to discover, learn, and pursue new frontiers of knowledge and life sustainability for living things. The journey isn’t all fraught with dangers, as there were also beautiful and memorable encounters, such as the visit to Vesta, and moments of humor, such as when Jack had to present a party gift to their host, EllGi, while her intimidating, muscular hunk of a mate (Kaskae) was watching. It took some diplomatic intervention from Tang to save his hide.
While I enjoyed Beyond Luna thoroughly, I cannot say the same for everyone else. This is not a book for every reader, sadly, and even regular Sci-fi novel readers won’t have a field day comprehending some aspects of the book. Some could say that this is a thumbs down for the book, but I couldn’t disagree more. Books are classified into genres for a reason, and this masterpiece falls into the genre for those who know their science well enough to be able to enjoy a science fiction novel. So as far as all things science fiction goes, I’ll rate this book five stars out of five, because it indeed went beyond the moon in meeting my expectations for a book of this genre.
Undoubtedly, Bob Freeman lives up to his name in his work, Beyond Luna. He certainly freed our minds, and for all lovers of books that unshackle the mind to endless possibilities, this is a book you don’t want to miss reading. Of a truth, Beyond Luna(r) would take you over the moon.
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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna Sept 2022
This review by D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review, will be published in their September issue. A link will be supplied when available.
Space opera used to be a very popular genre, but in recent decades, it seems to have fallen by the wayside somewhat. Sci-fi readers of all ages who mourn this loss and look for contemporary space opera stories rich in action, humor, and description will find this first book in the H2LiftShips series, Beyond Luna, captures a milieu set in a parallel futuristic universe of solar ships, military engagements, and post-apocalyptic wonder.
Here, Solar Sail cargo ships operate in the asteroid belt. One such vessel is the LunaCola, whose crew makes a business of scavenging supplies from Earth and gambling at the casino to fund their existence and lifestyle.
This pursuit often brings them into conflict with pirates, authorities, and the law. It also introduces them to unusual scenarios that test their abilities and loyalties.
Bob Freeman provides a fitting disclosure of the type of reader who may (and may not) be attracted to this world: "If you enjoy long, complex lead-ins as part of a world-building story, this series is for you. Otherwise, maybe try something lighter and flashy ... What you will find is some gambling, drinking, passive-aggressive families, lying, stealing, and double-dealing, e.g. normal sentients, mostly nice, but watch your back."
Merriam-Webster defines space opera as "...a futuristic melodramatic fantasy involving space travelers and extraterrestrial beings."
While this description is too often augmented by the note that space opera can be notoriously simplistic and often represents bad writing, Freeman's series defies this notion by offering a setting, circumstances, and developments that test his characters' ability to survive and grow on different levels.
All this is set against the backdrop of action, encounters with a variety of aliens who harbor their own special interests, and a crew that handles high tech and high controversy with equal skill.
As for the 'post-apocalyptic' piece, it should be noted that this universe isn't exactly suffering for its origins and influences, but presents a surprisingly positive picture of revised lives and new worlds.
Freeman incorporates many vivid descriptions of this futuristic technology and milieu into a story that is richer for the time taken to explore these foundations: "Tang was overjoyed to hear that the Luna launch would be by laser boost. The ship was too heavy for the ski jump and if they tried a kite launch, they would probably be dragged into a mountain or crater before breaking free from Luna's gravity."
The result both supports the rollicking adventure-forward nature of the space opera genre while expanding its boundaries into the realm of solid writing, vivid descriptions, and unexpected encounters between aliens and humans.
Sci-fi fans of the space opera genre who look for strong action and, especially, attention to a sense of place and high-tech worlds will relish Beyond Luna's ability to bring to the table a different sense of scientific wonder and development, all wrapped into a story that flavors its action with more than a light dose of humor for added value.
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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna 4 star/5
Beyond Luna was one of a kind sci-fi book /manual/ cyber punk novel all in one package. As I started off the book, it was hard for me to comprehend everything that was happening. But after finishing couple of chapter, it was much easier to read.
The book is exactly as described in the blurb. It is manual of sorts about a the future where people are settled all over space, especially on Luna- the moon.
The writing style was eloquent and ponderous. The tone of the book was whacky and earnest. The theme of the book was getting the readers acquainted with this new world and how it functioned. The book was not your typical sci-fi fiction for sure.
It mainly focused on explaining how everything worked in Luna. Earth was the Home World and H2LiftShips were the ships that travelled across to get cargo.
Our main characters were in one such H2LiftShips called Luna Cola. Graciela was the Captain, she was a human female. The first mate and navigator was an octopus.
The deckhands were Tang, an orangutan and Jack, a dog. Some species such as canines and apes after evolution began conversing with good cognitive skills in this world.
We follow their journey as they trade their goods in different places. In the second half of the book, a new character pops up which livens up the story.
Ponos was a miner who got injured. He was now stuck in one place until he healed up. He needed to depend on gig work in order to earn his money.
After this part, the two stories collide in an unexpected way. The ending was shocking and exciting. For me, what worked best in the book was the quirky banter between Tang and Jack.
They were polar opposites in so many things and yet they were loyal to each other. I would recommend this book to hardcore sci-fi fans.
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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna
This is not the genre I usually read. I have never read any Star Wars books, and although I have seen the movies, I have watched only a handful of the Star Trek series and none of its spin-offs. In addition, and I am a little embarrassed to admit this, I am not a supporter of the space program. The reason for my sharing these fascinating tidbits of my life with you is to demonstrate that I was not expecting to enjoy this book, so it came as quite a surprise when I found myself laughing out loud as I read and shared snippets with my husband.
Rich with a marvelous sense of both imagination and creativity, this story takes you on the ride of your life without drugs. Set in a future where dogs, orangutans, and octopi can communicate with and work alongside humans and space travel is an everyday affair, the reader finds it easy to buy into the life while space traveling with animals. The novel is full of details that any self-respecting engineer or scientist would enjoy but nothing the average person cannot understand. Although I really liked the characters, it was a surprise to me that the least developed character was the main human, with the dog and orangutans being the most developed. The poker-playing orangutan, Tang, thinks of himself as suave and sleek. Jack, the dog, considers himself ever so bright and the First Mate, a rather snooty Octopus that communicates with colors, helps make the crew on the ship fascinating.
The story is fun, lighthearted, and totally worth reading. To be able to pull together all the different details of this story in a way that provides the reader with a connection so far outside the realm of reality is very impressive. This may be a futuristic space travel version of what Lewis Carroll would have written had he lived today. Bravo Bob Freeman!
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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna 4 star
You expect a manual to be boring, even if it is a space manual. But this book was written with the narrative intricacies of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the galaxy. It is funny, it is technical, it has animal characters who are more into space traveling than the human. Each aspect of space travel (such as jet propulsion) is explained as if part of a tech manual but the writing style is such as if talking to a funny AI. I did not know what to expect before starting this book as I was promised “not a typical soap opera”, but not a cliché sci-fi either. I was glad it was neither. It was an interesting story set in a future where animals can do space travel alongside humans. They can communicate. Their species has developed. And in fact, the animal characters had more nuances than the human ones.
It is NOT a short book, so you would have to be really into sci-fi to develop an interest in this. But if you like Volume one, Volume two will read like a breeze.
So far, most of the sci-fi books I have read have either been a story of personal development, with just sci-fi elements thrown in to build a premise or a complete dystopian era of doom with the responsibility of saving the world resting on one’s shoulder. This was neither and I was glad. That doesn’t mean that it would be a hit with all the people who like that kind of story. The book is different, and so it shall have acceptability in a few people who enjoy such kind of quirky space stories (without the aliens.)
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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna
Tang thought to himself, They never should have given dogs the ability to talk."
In the first chapter, readers are asked to "Imagine a world, exactly like ours, but different." This is exactly what one experiences in this sci-fi adventure which explores the concept of space travel and the interplanetary world of commerce. Tang, an orange orangutan, and his canine work buddy, Jack, find adventure in their travels on the H2LiftShip, a cargo ship. Their work as deckhands allows them time to explore each stop's entertainment offerings, which for Tang means a trip to the nearest casino or illegal poker game. Both animals have acquired the ability to talk, and they interact with all manner of creatures both while on the ship and when reaching its destination. Just as promised in the first chapter, the two will encounter problems experienced in today's world as they travel between planets, the moon, and other locations in a galaxy that can be somewhat like the Wild West.
This page-turner is an inventive imagining of what life might be like in a future still ruled by the desire for wealth and power and in which space travel has allowed for the colonization of the moon, planets, and asteroids. With its gambling-addicted orangutan and his canine sidekick, the plot delivers plenty of humorous moments. Jack is somewhat innocent and lovable and is the perfect foil for the more worldly Tang. They are an unlikely pair, and their antics offer plenty of humorous moments. There are explanations of the nuts and bolts of space travel included, which some may find a little too technical, but the heart of the book centers on Tang and Jack. This fun read will certainly appeal to anyone who enjoys reading about what future space travel might be like.
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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna
I had high hopes for this book as I love science fiction books. In the first chapter it tells you it is not a typical space opera and is written like a how to manual. I found it to be very boring. I just could not get into the story as it was like all background information and I didn't have a character to follow so I didn't read but a couple of chapters before I had to quit reading as there was nothing of interest for me as it did not set my imagination soaring like most books do. The sentence structure was good and I did not see any typos, but as far as story goes, I would not recommend this book
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The Reading Bub 07/27/22
Beyond Luna is the first book in the H2LiftShip science-fiction series by author Bob Freeman. This book was so wildly adventurous that I could not stop myself from starting to read the next book in the series right after I was done reading this book. But first things first, this book had an amazing plot, excellent execution of that plot, good writing to bring it to life and well-built characters to bring it all together.
It was an immensely immersive read and the world-building was simply out of the world (pud definitely intended ;)
I liked the authors writing and the new creatures in the book were definitely created with a lot of careful consideration. I enjoyed reading about them and cared enough about their character development to read the entire book and was left wanting to read more.
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Net Galley Review
Bob Freeman, the author, states up front that this book has a particular style that’s not for everyone. In a world exactly like ours but different, dogs, octopus and Simians (definitely not monkeys) are all part of the crews on cargo hauling space ships. It’s a quirky book, has lots of dry humour, and is very instructional about space travel and living on planets in the depth of space, and quite a few visits to Casinos.. There is a story, but also a lot of description. If you read the second book H2liftships A Backstory then you better understand this book. I’m off to read the third book out soon. Thank you to Bookbuzz.net and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, ‘my words and your words’ (read the book and you may understand.)