Skywave: 1 (The Rorschach Explorer Missions)

Best read in a long time and I read a hell of a lot of Sci Fi. Excellent writing and, to the best of my knowledge, an original and entrtaining plot. Up there with the best of them.

This was a fun story about signals received from Jupiter's moon, Callisto. What is the source? Aliens or something else?Whilst the plot was interesting, I found the characters lacking a bit in believability.

I could write a really long review but in truth my header summary pretty much says it all.The plot is original (at least to me) pacy and well conceived, the characters are 'real' and the dialogue convincing.It is a self contained story (for part one of two) so whilst looking forward to another bite of this cherry I did feel the book resolved very well. So many 'new' SciFi books I read seem little more than war/action/blood/cruelty fests; it was SO refreshing to read a well paced SciFi 'thriller' that had none of that. Excellent.

Long time since I've read a good science fiction novel. Politics and Space ships battle it out to a conclusion sound enough to make book 2 a must read.

I normally go for the space opera type of book with battles etc. This was just as good. A slow start that gets better and better.

This was a really great read with a fascinating storyline set in our current timeline. Aliens which you are never quire sure if they are threatening or otherwise. The author goes into a fair amount of technical detail but stick with it as the story picks up pace. i enoyed this book so much that i purchased book 2 immediately - and boy, was that a rip roaring ride.

It was a real struggle at times to cope with the clunky prose but the idea and the story is great.

I'm an avid reader, but rarely feel compelled to leave reviews, this was different. There is a considerable realism to this book, much more about the politics and challenge of first contact than action and absurd aliens. Second book has a lot to live up to.

As a lifelong sci-fi fan (a long lifelong), I'm always looking for new books to enjoy in the genre. This one actually surprised me a little with how much I liked it since I picked it up on a whim. Like a combination of Arthur C. Clarke, Michael Crichton, and, oddly, Tom Clancy, this is an extremely engaging hard science fiction story full of science, surprises, suspense, politics, and interesting characters who are passionate about space exploration. I found it hard to put down and enjoyed every moment of the read. Off now to acquire the next novel in the series.

Skywave has it all: A dramatic storyline, political intrigue, and lots of plausible scientific content. I'm not sure why the author decided to set the story in 2018 (when the book was published) because it depicted past events that never really happened, so I had to suspend my disbelief. Nonetheless, the writing is still good enough to warrant five stars.

When I read the back, I was expecting it to turn out like Independence Day, which is part of the reason I bought it. So, I was very surprised to find that it isn't like that at all. It's actually very original. It arrived in great condition and was a very entertaining read. The author provides a completely different spin on the alien genre - and it works! Normally, whenever aliens are brought up in fiction (whether movies or books), they tend to either show the alien believers as nutcases and the anti-aliens as logical, and vice versa. I was impressed by the fact that the author of Skywave (I've forgotten his name) didn't do that. Instead he gave both sides equal page time and presented compelling arguments for both sides. I also loved the fact that while there are technically villains and good guys, it isn't straight black and white. It's more grey. The "villains" were believable and not over-the-top, dramatic villains. It goes at a steady pace and has great build-up. The tension and desperation in the last half of the book was awesome and felt natural, it didn't feel like it was there just to keep readers entertained. Some might find all the technical and space-related details and history sessions somewhat jarring or daunting to get through (I did at some parts). Skywave is an entertaining and awesome addition to the alien genre and gives the series a promising start.

In the novel "Skywave," readers are treated to a tale of remarkable character development set against a backdrop of tropey and predictable plotlines as well as endless acronyms. The author's talent shines through in the creation of deeply layered and evolving characters who breathe life into the story. These characters undergo profound transformations throughout the narrative, inviting readers to intimately understand their motivations, vulnerabilities, and growth. It is in this aspect that "Skywave" truly excels, forging strong emotional connections between the characters and the audience. The rest you have to plow through. Aliens similar to tiny bee swarms simply aren't interesting.However, despite the brilliance of character development, the overall storytelling of "Skywave" falls into the realm of predictability. The narrative unfolds in a formulaic manner, adhering closely to well-established genre conventions. From the initial setup to the climax, readers encounter few surprises or innovative twists. The novel leans heavily on clichéd tropes that may offer comfort to some, but leave others yearning for a more imaginative and original approach to storytelling.In "Skywave," the characters' depth and authenticity manage to salvage much of the reading experience, creating a compelling emotional core that keeps readers engaged even as the plot follows well-worn paths. While the book has its moments of brilliance, it ultimately represents a balance of extraordinary character development set against a backdrop of tropey and predictable plotlines.

I the story was engrossing with many a twist and turn. The author made a good choice in switching to SyFy stories. Anxious to read the second book.