Starbound and Chucklefish (and their respective logos) are trade marks or registered trade marks of Chucklefish Limited. The Game is a fictitious work set in an imagined world. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Most recent threadmarks: 14. JSDF/Star Gate/XCOM/Delta Green or the EDF!' In which case, they might get a news headliner on 'we're suddenly being invaded by monsters from another world' angle. No reports were made about people from Starbound Universe being taken away since the disappearance of Calypso Fleet but if.
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Preview — Starbound by Joe Haldeman
(Marsbound #2)
Carmen Dula and her husband spent six years travelling to the distant home of the powerful race known as 'The Others,' in the hopes of forging a truce. But by the time Carmen returns to Earth, fifty years have passed-and the Earthlings have built a flotilla of warships to defend Earth against The Others.
But The Others have more power than anyone could imagine-and they wil
...moreBut The Others have more power than anyone could imagine-and they wil
Published January 5th 2010 by Ace Books (first published December 9th 2009)
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Starbound left me conflicted, I have had to have a few days to think it over before writing a review. After the human race’s near extinction from an exploding martian the earth authorities decide to send an expedition after the mysterious Other’s starship that left the solar system heading for what might be the Others home world.
Carmen Dula and her husband have spent six years travelling to a distant solar system that is home to the enigmatic, powerful race known as “The Others,” in the hopes o...more
Carmen Dula and her husband have spent six years travelling to a distant solar system that is home to the enigmatic, powerful race known as “The Others,” in the hopes o...more
Jul 26, 2011Neal rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Joe Haldeman is one of my favorite authors, but this book is a literal (and literary) train wreck. First, every chapter is written from the first person POV of one of the characters, and it switches every (short) chapter. Half the time I had no idea which character was actually doing the 1st person narration, because Haldeman doesn't provide an ample clue via dialogue or narration. After half the book is done I started to get a feel for who was narrating, but it wasn't always obvious. Really, RE...more
Apr 26, 2013Travis rated it did not like it
What a bitterly disappointing turd when held up to what 'The Forever War' was. It feels like Haldeman set out trying to write a young adult novel with relatively simplistic characters- but somewhere he decided to add copious amounts of sex to keep everyone else from falling asleep. Rather than adding flavor, it only makes things come off more than a little weird. None of these characters have any interesting or driving force of personality. The changes between POV every chapter (at least give me...more
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Apr 15, 2010Robert Laird rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Starbound is a sequel to the Marsbound novel by Haldeman. I found both to be very enjoyable stories, strictly hard-sf, so no funny business. When beginning Marsbound, my first impression was that the story was written very simplistically and with no guile. However, after reading both and reflecting on the overall story, I decided that it is deceptive: the story (I use the singular since the two novels are really one story) covers a lot of ground, the characterizations develop fully if slowly, an...more
One thing I love about Haldeman is how he throws a ton of ideas at the reader in a relatively short book. He's very much a hard sci-fi writer in that way, although he also delves into the psychology of how humans would react to an alien species. This is also one of the things I don't like about Haldeman, because any one of the ideas he approaches here (monogamy in human relationships, mental illness, mass murder, faith in God, not to mention first contact with an alien species incomprehensible t...more
Jun 22, 2010Jamie Collins rated it it was ok
This is the middle book in the Marsbound/Starbound/Earthbound trilogy. I've read most of Haldeman's work, and I like his writing. This was a quick, smooth read, despite the admittedly confusing first-person POV changes. (It was obvious when the 'Martian' was speaking, but Carmen and Namir sounded too much alike, and often it would take me a few paragraphs to figure out which one was speaking.) I liked the characters, and the story of their confinement for years in a spacecraft was interesting, e...more
May 16, 2011Dan rated it liked it
I enjoy Haldeman's writing style, and this one doesn't disappoint. His handling of much of the minutia of living and traveling in space is generally well-written, and like his other books there's a little hedonism thrown in here and there to keep you on your toes. There's plenty of hard sci-fi in here (pun intended).
Anyway, Haldeman does a good job telling an interesting story with realistic characters without the book being too wordy. There are many hard-sci-fi elements in the book, but the au...more
Anyway, Haldeman does a good job telling an interesting story with realistic characters without the book being too wordy. There are many hard-sci-fi elements in the book, but the au...more
I usually think people are too hard on Haldeman these days, but this one just wasn't up to snuff. I liked getting back with the characters from 'Marsbound' (which I liked quite a bit) and seeing what happened as a result of the events in that book...
However, the shifting narrators here was annoying. AND it did not have to be. Yes, I could discern who was talking after reading for few sentences (or in some cases paragraphs) but why did I need to? That took my focus from the story & unlike a r...more
However, the shifting narrators here was annoying. AND it did not have to be. Yes, I could discern who was talking after reading for few sentences (or in some cases paragraphs) but why did I need to? That took my focus from the story & unlike a r...more
Quickly read over the weekend. It feels a lot like a nice space opera: fun and engaging, a page turner which focuses more on the human interaction between people (though at a very shallow level considering a year can pass in the space of a few pages). I enjoyed it as much as a high quality miniseries.
A continuation of the Marsbound story which I found interesting but Halderman seem to over indulge with sexual exploits in both books. This is not needed or wanted in a SF book , just get on with the story. The 'others' (could he have tried a better name?) are a powerful race of non DNA beings that live at extreme cold temperatures and are seemingly in control of much of the galaxy. How beings like this could ever have made a fire much less be millions of years ahead in technology is beyond me....more
May 11, 2017Philip Shade rated it liked it
I've largely outgrown Haldeman's style. He consistently comes up with ideas and concepts that make readers sit and ponder the larger implications, especially of technologies effects on humankind, but writing-wise I think the series (Marsbound, Starbound, Earthbound) are probably better suited for a YA audience.
Still, I stayed up till 1 AM to finish it, and the ending left me wanting to run out to the library and get the final book.
Still, I stayed up till 1 AM to finish it, and the ending left me wanting to run out to the library and get the final book.
The best part of this book was the changing perspective. Told from the first person, the storyteller changed with nearly every chapter after the first few. Sometimes it was hard to pick up who was telling the story, other times it was pretty simple. like most sequels, the story wasn't as good as the first, and I felt like the end was a little rushed. just like the first book, though, as soon as I was done I reached for the next (and in this case, the final) book in the series.
Jun 10, 2018Nola Redd rated it liked it
A good story, but still annoyingly sexist. The point of view switches each chapter, and it can be hard to tell who the narrator is, since they're all told in first person. I once read three pages thinking it was A before I realized it was B, and that wasn't the only time; I frequently had to re read to figure it out.
I really enjoyed reading this one. It's a great follow up to Marsbound. The aliens are fascinating and alien enough to be more believable than most of the crap out there. Also, a truly killer ending. I've read so many books recently that just leave you hanging that it's nice to read something with some resolution, and it sure as hell is not a 'happily ever after' kind of thing.
This the third Haldeman SF book Ive had the pleasure to read. His stories do not disappoint and are hard to predict, which is a high quality for me. Always containing a good dose of humanity along with some thought provoking ideas.
Feb 12, 2019L.B. Sedlacek rated it did not like it
I really liked the first book Marsbound. This sequel, though, is super boring. It maybe would’ve made a nice short story. I will read the next one but maybe after I read some other books first.
Jul 18, 2012Alex Shrugged rated it liked it Shelves: jewish, reviewed-books, science-fiction, time-travel, alien-contact
OK. This book has two major themes... Judaism and sex. The author portrays what I would call 'secular Jews'. (FYI, I am an Orthodox Jew.) The previous book in the series, Marsbound, had sexual encounters in it, but that was not the central theme. In this new book, sex has become a major source of conflict. Frankly, I think the author overdoes it.
The story: A group of humans and 'Martians' are selected to journey to the Wolf Star System to talk to 'The Others,' a superior alien race that recently...more
The story: A group of humans and 'Martians' are selected to journey to the Wolf Star System to talk to 'The Others,' a superior alien race that recently...more
Starbound is the second book in Haldeman’s Marsbound series. As with Marsbound, the tech in this book is believable and the aliens are truly strange. They are powerful, seemingly amoral (at least from a human perspective), possibly sadistic, and almost certainly paranoid.
In this book, seven humans and two ‘Martians’ are sent to bring them a message of peace (please don’t kill us), and it is the mystery of what the delegation from our solar system will find out about the aliens -- what they are,...more
In this book, seven humans and two ‘Martians’ are sent to bring them a message of peace (please don’t kill us), and it is the mystery of what the delegation from our solar system will find out about the aliens -- what they are,...more
This is the sequel to Marsbound. In this one, our protagonist Carmen heads off on a relativistic sublight trip to a nearby star to meet with the aliens who were behind the machinations of Marsbound.
I was a little disappointed by this one, not so much for the story itself but for some of the mechanics of how it was told. The basic story is that of the journey, i.e. the preparations, the long trip itself, and what happens once we get to the destination. Those aspects were fairly interesting and h...more
I was a little disappointed by this one, not so much for the story itself but for some of the mechanics of how it was told. The basic story is that of the journey, i.e. the preparations, the long trip itself, and what happens once we get to the destination. Those aspects were fairly interesting and h...more
In the sequel to Marsbound, Carmen and Paul, along with a few other human and Martian crew members, are tasked with an interstellar exploratory mission to the presumed home planet of the Others. Despite the 'free energy' discovered in the previous book, the trip will take years, skimming the speed of light. But do the Others appreciate the intrusion? And what do they really want?
Most of the book is about the trip itself, and the psychological challenges of living for years in a confined space wh...more
Most of the book is about the trip itself, and the psychological challenges of living for years in a confined space wh...more
Dec 07, 2011Marsha rated it liked it · review of another edition
I think this is more of a 2.5 star novel. I really found the constantly changing POV disjointed. I somewhat liked the idea of presenting this as an insight into long-term space travel and the interactions between the crew members. But character does not appear to be Haldeman's strong suit. His presentation of their world is nicely uncomplicated and fairly easy to imagine but there is something slightly off about the characters that I find common in male science fiction authors. I may be presumin...more
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This sequel failed to deliver. I loved Marsbound, but this book was a bit of a disappointment. The plot seemed forced, almost as if Haldeman had a two-book deal with his publisher, and had to squeeze out Starbound from the reserve of genius that wasn't used up in the creation of The Forever War and Camouflage. The story follows Carmen Dula (Marsgirl) and a team of soldiers, scientists and Martians as they embark on a mission to the Other's homeworld. This really should have been a 3-star read, i...more
Aug 23, 2010Danielle rated it did not like it
I will probably not finish this book.
The POV changes are disorienting and annoying. The book jumps from character to character, all of which are written in first person, and it makes you guess who is speaking. To speak as one character for while, saying 'I' and 'she', then to immediately jump to another POV using 'I' and 'she'… it takes a while for me to recalibrate my thinking when all I'm wondering the whole time is 'ok, whose head am I in now?'
I just finished Hobb's Ship of Destiny, which wa...more
The POV changes are disorienting and annoying. The book jumps from character to character, all of which are written in first person, and it makes you guess who is speaking. To speak as one character for while, saying 'I' and 'she', then to immediately jump to another POV using 'I' and 'she'… it takes a while for me to recalibrate my thinking when all I'm wondering the whole time is 'ok, whose head am I in now?'
I just finished Hobb's Ship of Destiny, which wa...more
Jun 04, 2014Tomislav rated it really liked it
This is a sequel to Haldeman's 2008 Marsbound, and there is a third book Earthbound as well.
Like Marsbound, this read as if the target reader was teenaged, but the sexual antics make me think that it is more like a retreaded young adult novel for readers who are now actually older. In my opinion, the whole who's-going-to-sleep-with-who thing was dragged out too long and interfered with the plot. However, the action picks up a lot towards the end.
It resembles hard-sf in that there is a lot of phy...more
Like Marsbound, this read as if the target reader was teenaged, but the sexual antics make me think that it is more like a retreaded young adult novel for readers who are now actually older. In my opinion, the whole who's-going-to-sleep-with-who thing was dragged out too long and interfered with the plot. However, the action picks up a lot towards the end.
It resembles hard-sf in that there is a lot of phy...more
Well, the first part of this book was really not too interesting, unfortunately. They traveled an awful long time, and the rotating narrators were really distracting, pulling me out of the story at the beginning of each chapter as I tried to figure out who the narrator was now. If authors are going to use rotating narrators, they should title every page with the name of the current narrator, as Heinlein did in 'Number of the Beast'. They should not take any other ideas from 'Number of the Beast'...more
Eh... this book was fairly entertaining, but frustrating at the same time. Sure, if you put a handful of people in a spaceship and send them towards a star lightyears away, there's going to be the issue of sex. Obviously, it's going to have to work itself out... but... it feels like Haldeman spends half the novel obsessing about how each character reacts to each other, who is sleeping with who, etc. It was actually pretty irritating to spend so much of the novel focused on that, and there was ne...more
Unfortunately, the part I liked about Marsbound was the colonization of Mars, and this isn't that part. Carmen Dula returns, this time as part of a multi-year interstellar mission to understand the Others, who nearly wiped out humanity in the previous book. Most of this book is about being locked up in a tin can with some friends, a few lovers, and a lot of reconstituted fake wine, and that's not quite as entertaining as it sounds.
The story and the characters were engaging enough to keep me read...more
The story and the characters were engaging enough to keep me read...more
Nov 24, 2012Mark rated it it was amazing
Surprising middle novel of Haldeman's trilogy which began with Marsbound. Earth is under threat from an unknown race known as the Others who created a species of sentient being and left it on Mars to await the time when humans achieved spaceflight. the Others are slow-lived, cryogenic beings that take a very long view and are profoundly paranoid of other advanced races. They put humans to a series of tests. At the end of this novel, humanity has apparently failed them all. It's been some time si...more
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Brother of Jack C. Haldeman II
Haldeman is the author of 20 novels and five collections. The Forever War won the Nebula, Hugo and Ditmar Awards for best science fiction novel in 1975. Other notable titles include Camouflage, The Accidental Time Machine and Marsbound as well as the short works 'Graves,' 'Tricentennial' and 'The Hemingway Hoax.' Starbound is scheduled for a January release. SFWA pres...more
Haldeman is the author of 20 novels and five collections. The Forever War won the Nebula, Hugo and Ditmar Awards for best science fiction novel in 1975. Other notable titles include Camouflage, The Accidental Time Machine and Marsbound as well as the short works 'Graves,' 'Tricentennial' and 'The Hemingway Hoax.' Starbound is scheduled for a January release. SFWA pres...more
Marsbound(3 books)
“I'm not quite Machiavellian enough to set him up, but if he strays too close to the edge I might give him a nudge.” — 5 likes
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Not the book you’re looking for?Preview — Star Stories by Audrey Faye
(The Fixers of KarmaCorp #3)
Ordinary moments that will one day reshape the galaxy...
A Seer in a spaceport fleamarket and a StarReader in his ivory tower - both with messages for Yesenia Mayes. The first days on Stardust Prime for a very special assistant and a very important class of tadpoles. The birth of two daughters - and the terrible sacrifices of the mothers who love them.
This is a volume of...more
A Seer in a spaceport fleamarket and a StarReader in his ivory tower - both with messages for Yesenia Mayes. The first days on Stardust Prime for a very special assistant and a very important class of tadpoles. The birth of two daughters - and the terrible sacrifices of the mothers who love them.
This is a volume of...more
Published May 14th 2016 by Fireweed Publishing LTD
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Dec 31, 2016Elizabeth rated it it was amazing Shelves: 0-kindle-unlimited, 00-reviewed, genre-science-fiction, stars-five-5
Start the karmacorp adventure here!
Yes I know the author has labelled this as book 3 but I found myself more invested in the world and stories after reading this collection.
So many of the characters, main and secondary, appear here. All of these characters felt more solid by the end. Books 1 and 2 were even better after reading this then re-reading them.
Or be conventional and start with Kish's story. Just jump into the series, there's now a beginning middle and end so no waiting for that last...more
Yes I know the author has labelled this as book 3 but I found myself more invested in the world and stories after reading this collection.
So many of the characters, main and secondary, appear here. All of these characters felt more solid by the end. Books 1 and 2 were even better after reading this then re-reading them.
Or be conventional and start with Kish's story. Just jump into the series, there's now a beginning middle and end so no waiting for that last...more
Feb 27, 2019Debbie rated it it was amazing
This was just a compilation of shorts, but they bring so much to the KarmaCorp Fixer universe: Bean's backstory and Kish's childhood and arrival, the four friends finding each other. We even get some history on the director. I'm running out of superlatives for this series, and this is only book 3.
Fascinating glimpse into the past
Star Stories Audrey Faye's short story collection was an interesting vehicle to use. The stories give the readers a little extra insight into the back stories of the main character s. It left me wanting more. Looking forward to Iggy's story Fortune's Dance
Star Stories Audrey Faye's short story collection was an interesting vehicle to use. The stories give the readers a little extra insight into the back stories of the main character s. It left me wanting more. Looking forward to Iggy's story Fortune's Dance
Insightful stories!
A good collection of short stories that enhance the overall experience of this series, with some interesting insights. These stories are amazingly well done, and delivered with real heart. I’m obviously a fan.
A good collection of short stories that enhance the overall experience of this series, with some interesting insights. These stories are amazingly well done, and delivered with real heart. I’m obviously a fan.
May 25, 2017Jeanne M. Jacquet rated it it was amazing
Great beginnings.
I enjoyed the stories and the looks into the characters that they gave. The stories just made me want to read more about the individuals themselves.
I enjoyed the stories and the looks into the characters that they gave. The stories just made me want to read more about the individuals themselves.
Just one....is not enough
Great short stories but not enough to leave me happy. Just a little frustrating.
It's a me thing. A heart year ning for stronger spells and Irish roots.
Great short stories but not enough to leave me happy. Just a little frustrating.
It's a me thing. A heart year ning for stronger spells and Irish roots.
Loving this series.
This is the third book in this series. I love them all. The characters are women I would like to meet and be friends with. On I go to read the next two books in the series. Great work Audrey Faye.
Jun 01, 2016Maria Elmvang rated it really liked itThis is the third book in this series. I love them all. The characters are women I would like to meet and be friends with. On I go to read the next two books in the series. Great work Audrey Faye.
Shelves: 2016, 4-stars, owned-ebook, sci-fi, short-stories
A collection of really charming short stories, set in the KarmaCorp universe.
As a general rule, I'm not fond of short stories, but that rule goes flying out of the window when it's short stories set in a universe I'm already familiar with, revolving around characters I'm already fond of (or at least know), so I guess my beef with short stories is mostly because I think they give too few pages to set the scene, so when the scene is already set (so to speak), I'm free to love them just as much as...more
As a general rule, I'm not fond of short stories, but that rule goes flying out of the window when it's short stories set in a universe I'm already familiar with, revolving around characters I'm already fond of (or at least know), so I guess my beef with short stories is mostly because I think they give too few pages to set the scene, so when the scene is already set (so to speak), I'm free to love them just as much as...more
This book was just what I needed to tie me irrevocably to Audrey’s Fixer series. I enjoyed the first two novels in the series but not to the degree that I absolutely adored the A Modern Witch and WitchLight series by her alter ego, Debora Geary. The new world and concepts threw me and left me not-quite-connected to the characters in each book, though they were compelling enough to at least hold my interest and leave me happy (as Audrey/Debora’s novels always do). These stories, though, give subs...more
Short Stories!
I usually don't like short stories because I read fast. These are an exception. I will read anything Audrey Faye writes! I like her writing style and I'm crazy about her characters. All of them have flaws and depth. Each beautiful in their own way. In KarmaCorp, each person has a special talent, and they are guided to use it to improve difficulties on one of many worlds. These stories are intriguing glimpses into several of the individuals who work there.
Every book she writes makes...more
I usually don't like short stories because I read fast. These are an exception. I will read anything Audrey Faye writes! I like her writing style and I'm crazy about her characters. All of them have flaws and depth. Each beautiful in their own way. In KarmaCorp, each person has a special talent, and they are guided to use it to improve difficulties on one of many worlds. These stories are intriguing glimpses into several of the individuals who work there.
Every book she writes makes...more
Why 5?
Well, because I had already read the other KarmaCorp books, so for you what was just a series of 'somewhat unconnected stories'; was for me a return visit with dear friends. The 5 was a tribute for the fact that when I finish the author's stories, I am left with a warm, full feeling like I have just connected with something good.
Well, because I had already read the other KarmaCorp books, so for you what was just a series of 'somewhat unconnected stories'; was for me a return visit with dear friends. The 5 was a tribute for the fact that when I finish the author's stories, I am left with a warm, full feeling like I have just connected with something good.
Short and sweet. Several short stories that take a glimpse into the lives of the people at KarmaCorp. Sweet stories of the talent we know before they grew up. And one story of Yesenia's secret. These stories were just little bursts of joy. if you love KarmaCorp you'll love these stories.
I don't normally do short stories, my brain just isn't formatted for such things - however, for this lady I made an exception and I didn't regret it.
Jun 30, 2016Jennifer Myers rated it it was amazing
Just what I needed
There is something in her writing that I love. Not sure what it is, possibly the overwhelming sense of kindness and peace that prevails in her stories. Thank you and please keep writing!
There is something in her writing that I love. Not sure what it is, possibly the overwhelming sense of kindness and peace that prevails in her stories. Thank you and please keep writing!
Aug 15, 2016Christal Lavery rated it it was amazing
Oh my how wonderful
Drifting and sifting storylines with amazing dexterity. These tales added so much dimension and depth to Karmacorp. I am waiting with great anticipation for the next release thank you Audrey Faye
Drifting and sifting storylines with amazing dexterity. These tales added so much dimension and depth to Karmacorp. I am waiting with great anticipation for the next release thank you Audrey Faye
Nov 11, 2016Matthew rated it it was amazing
A lovely little set of stories. Some weren't great but there were some that were the richest and most beautiful things I've read under the Audrey Faye name.
They really did fill in the world and provide background for the stories of KarmaCorp.
They really did fill in the world and provide background for the stories of KarmaCorp.
Excellent a gain.. hadn't meant to read it in one sitting
But it swept me right in.. Love the karma Corp stories! More please! These wanderings will really enrich the characters who were already people I'd love to know!
But it swept me right in.. Love the karma Corp stories! More please! These wanderings will really enrich the characters who were already people I'd love to know!
Loved it. I've devoured Tee's story and this in 2 days flat. Now I'm desperately waiting for Iggy and Raven's . I loved getting more background on Ysenia and Bean and the 4 fixers as girls.
beautiful tales!
beautiful tales!
Another great read!
Audrey just never disappoints! Love getting more glimpses into the KarmaCorp characters. Thank you Audrey!! Can't wait for the next installment.
Audrey just never disappoints! Love getting more glimpses into the KarmaCorp characters. Thank you Audrey!! Can't wait for the next installment.
Aug 18, 2016marz rated it really liked it
Read this after reading the first three novels in the KarmaCorp series. I think it was better than if I had read this one first.
Short stories with depth
Star stories are wonderful. They add a new depth to the KarmaCorp stories. Ms. Faye never misses no matter what name she writes under.
Star stories are wonderful. They add a new depth to the KarmaCorp stories. Ms. Faye never misses no matter what name she writes under.
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Has previously authored books under the name of Debora Geary.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
The Fixers of KarmaCorp(7 books)