Blueshift

A real interesting writing. Yes, to travel light years away and return to a earth 100's. of yes later. All would have changed. The inner relationships of these non-perfect humans . a real pscho study. A 2nd book? No. We know mark and median will go back to earth, meet Mai's and His people and start helping them as well as deal with enemy and idol worshiping peoples

Anything by Joshua Dalzelle is an instant purchase. Even if its not as good as his other books I'll still buy a copy just to show my support for him. Love the 'Black Fleet' series - it's my all time favorite space opera.

I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't amazing. I'm on the fence about looking into more books by the author. This is because the most important part if any book is the people. You have to like them, or hate them, and want to find out more about them. In this book I didn't like many of the characters, and our main her was not one that I carry about at all, while I know absolutely nothing about our other main hero except hero 1 has a crush on her. The villains were fleshed out better, but still fell flat. Very simple minded for geniuses, the only explication for their actions is they all went crazy in order to provide a villain in the story. Could have had the struggle to cope dynamic without the crazy homicidal tendancies.

What would happen if you pushed existing technology to the brink, sending a mismatched crew on an 8 century interstellar voyage - only to return to a post-apocalyptic Earth?

Dalzelle starts with an intriguing premise. But the novel he birthed from that seed falls short of fulfilling the promise. Oh, the story is good enough, if perhaps a bit dark. None of the characters are particularly likeable, nor are they really fleshed out in any meaningful way. As a result, we're presented with a pretty two dimensional cast of psychopaths and narcissists.

While it's evident the author intended this to be a character driven story, even if he failed to develop the main characters, the book still could have been redeemed had we been given explanations for what occurred during the 800 years the crew was out of contact. Instead, the novel ends without answers to that question. Nor does he explain how a supposed plague event resulted in Kentucky turning into a tropical jungle, how the former colonies on Mars turned into what they become, or how the remnants of humanity that survived the apocalypse evolved (devolved?) into a precambrian society.

This is why I can only give this novel 3 stars. It's semi-entertaining light reading. But like a light beer, it leaves you unsatisfied. Just a little more effort could have turned this into a great science fiction classic.

I really didn't enjoy this book. Stereotypical dysfunctional hysteria quasi horror. Example of how stupid parts can be; they have been eating processed food for years, and they know they are probably going to for on earth, but they won't cook a deal for fear of the small possibility of some virus. Too many ridiculous and illogical parts to this book.

I have read every other book of JD and rated them 5 stars. This is really a let downhill and felt like a waste of time.

I am not clear what the Blueshift title had to do with the book at all, thankfully it didn’t affect the quality of the read. I stated in my tag line that the book might have been better titled , Bloodshift since it seemed every time someone was on a watch shift, somebody got murdered. One thing the book clearly demonstrated was that humankind takes their murderous, devious, conniving behavioral traits into the distant future, into different solar systems and back and even near extinction doesn’t evolve it out of them. I enjoyed the characters although the females were somewhat stereotypical and poorly portrayed while even the bad guys are given more depth and character. The overall story was engaging and definitely suspenseful but left me flat at the final end. However, this doesn’t stop me from recommending this book to those who enjoy fast paced, easy/quick read science fiction future earth. Not a lot of space travel really.

Dalzelle is an excellent writer. He is on my watch list and Ill read anything he writes. Blueshift again is excellently written with great texture believable characters and most importantly for me the believability of the scifi aspects. The novel focuses on the deception and ultimate betrayal of between factions of the Polaris Project crew, returning to the solar system after 800 years in space to a new world. I found myself losing interest as I progressed through the novel and skipped forward to the parts I found interesting. Much more interesting to me was the discovery of humans on Earth and on Mars and the interaction between the Blueshift crew who are now seen as aliens to the earth survivors That aspect of the novel in terms of amount of content was very lightly touched and very disappointing for me. However the setup at the end suggests this may be more heavily addressed should there be a sequel.

The story started out a bit slowly for me, but rapidly picked up steam to the point where I believe I only set the book aside three times during reading! The book starts on a premise which seems mildly interesting at first, opens up greatly after the first third of the book, and rapidly steamrolls forward in a far future location with all-too-familiar dangers we might face if we step outside of our city cocoons and into the wild. I am really looking forward to a second novel in this series . I won't provide any spoilers, but believe me, this book is well worth reading and the end is far more open than I would like for a single book . To the author Joshua, I highly vote for second book in the series! Well worth the read.

The central character lacks some of the humanity that one usually finds in a Dalzelle. None of the good guys or bad guys is as engaging as I have come to expect. That said; Overall the plot, while moving somewhat predictably from point to point, was engaging enough to hold my interest to the end. I will be disappointed if there is no sequel. Josh has a LOT of raw material to work with here and could easily turn the next book in any number of directions. A good part of book two could examine where Earth went wrong and speculate on the wisdom (hinted at already) of trying to fix things. Conflict as to what direction governance should take and how forced survival/selection affects survivors readiness to be helped at all; AKA A Troublesome Inheritance.

I just could not relate to the characters. The story was slow, depressing and didn't grab me. Totally understand the author trying something new but this didn't work for me. Not into psychological interpersonal relationships. I want a uplifting adventure, kind of like Omega force X. Can't wait for it to be released! This author is one of my top 3 favorite Kindle writers. Very professional writing skills. Couldn't give him a one star.

This attempt was shallow, mindless, profane and a total waste of time. Thankfully, I have Kindle unlimited so it did not cost me anything. I can truthfully say it was worth what I paid for it. I hope you do not waste your time on this one.

This story gets five stars, if for no other reason than it's not the standard space opera that measures weapons by caliber and focuses on all the shoot 'em up scenes.
As Josh Dalzelle said in his afterward, he left out most of the technical bits to focus on the dynamic of the crew. That fact makes the story with reading. History (even fictional) is nothing without understanding the people and the cultures behind it.
This is not a long book, if you're the impatient sort, and the character development is engaging. I would love to see a sequel.
I've enjoyed the story and hope you do the same.

I very much enjoyed this stand-alone book fromJoshua Dalzelle. I am a huge fan of his other series but I like this departure from the norm. Much darker, much less humor, but very engaging characters and storylines.

My only wish is that he had fleshed it out a little more. I wanted to know more about the virus, more about the Martians, more about the planet they visited.

Book is 269 pages but I would’ve liked to have seen it around 400 pages.

Regardless, a fun book and recommended.

This is my first book by the author & I found it to be a nice change of pace from my usual science fiction fare. By focusing more on the people, their thoughts, feelings & motivations Mr. Dalzelle has created an engrossing and warm story not bogged down with technical details but full of rich characters that leave you caring what happens to them. Hoping for their success, while being both appalled & surprising understanding of the actions that the fight for survival brings out in different people.

I'm a pretty devoted reader of Joshua and I always look forward to new stories from him. This does not disappoint! I liked it about the human drama and not loaded down with tech. A fast moving story that you'll read through in no time at all, 2 sittings over 2 days for about 4 hours total. While not a series it does leave some open ends, so we could see more if this book has legs. I would read a 2nd volume and I trust Joshua to produce quality material. So having said that I only give it 4 stars because 4 and half is not an option. It's rare I give 5 because I want to see writers keep working hard on their craft.

The plot is scary and challenging of belief. But he pulls it off. Then with all the conflict comes the resolution and it is so surprising. I know this is scy fi but it also seems a psyco plot. Not his usual fare but a very fun read. I do hope we get to see some of this plot go on and unfold in another volume. The character strengths and challenges are big enough to pull it off. This one will have to get a good slower re-read. Wow. Good job.

Please write a "Redshift". This is a cracking story which for those familiar with "The Three Body Problem" locates the "dark forest" theory in very local terms, seven people who've been to the stars fighting each other to get off an Earth 800 years from now; both primitive and yet possessed of residual tech and wild humans desirous of nothing so much as using it to kill the returned and ancient travellers. Meanwhile a rescue mission from Mars Colony is heading their way with a clock ticking to get them to the hyper-civilised Red Planet.

There were too many neurotic and or psychotic characters in this story. I like the premise of the story, but there was very little trust between the crewmembers. I would’ve figured that in 800 years people might have learned to work together instead of reverting to savages. I don’t understand the Martians, why didn’t they attempt to visit the earth in 800 years? The book moves slowly and only sped up near the end. The book was okay.

Interesting story, but I cant get past a stardrive based upon pulsed (apparently fission) detonations, and if that is not enough, deceleration form interstellar speeds using conventional rockets with backup solid state boosters......after using some of the chemical fuel in another star system!!
Is it not well established that even fusion is not enough to cross interstellar space, unless there is some way to constantly refuel (Bussard ramjet)?

Although Most Fans Have Enjoyed The Authors Epic Series,
This Stand Alone Has All The Brilliant Story Telling Excellence We've Come To Expect From Joshua Dazelle, In A Condensed Novel!
Though The Ending Has a Very Satisfying Finale,
The Author Leaves The Choice Of Continuing Future Adventures To Us, His Constant Readers!

Peter Anthony Roland
Miami Beach Florida
March 2018

I enjoyed the overall concept of the story. I read the authors end notes, describing what he did with the story, and I fully appreciate what he did. There were some parts that were far too technical and dragged on rather dryly. However, I did like the parts about what they found on Earth after returning.

I must admit, when I picked this up it went where somewhere I was not expecting. I appreciate that character building is necessary, but this many characters takes a prohibitively long time. (Why it lost a star) But once things get into motion it does pick up. A good read all the same.

Great book. Not too "sciencey" but the right balances of engineering and talent. I wasn't too keen on the evolution jump angle but it is sci-fi . It starts off a bit slow but hang in there! I hope there's a book or two more in this thread. I'll be off to read some of his other stuff now.

This book is more about the dynamics between people than about space. It’s very interesting to see how these people interact and react to different situations they face. It was a good quick read. It leaves me wanting more. So, yes, I’d love it if the author wrote “Redshift.”

Nice effort but not quite what I expected I would rather have read another Omega Force novel, this just didn’t have any imagination that I’m use to reading from Josh I hope to see another installment of OF soon I just couldn’t get in this plot and ending was just left out there

I wasn't sure what to expect since it's a big departure from Omega Force which is how I discovered Joshua, but it was a good read. I enjoyed the story and the characters. None of the characters felt under-developed which was nice. A great​ departure from his usual stuff.

Interesting take on a post-collapse survival story. Will the intrepid explorers survive the wilds and make it back to their lander? Can a dysfunctional collection of egotistical misfits cooperate in order to survive? Guess you’ll need to read the book to find out!

The setup to the story was an intriguing one, but ultimately became irrelevant to the plot of the book. I would have preferred there to be more exploration into the backstory and the circumstances the characters returned to with regard to Earth, Mars, and their inhabitants.

This is a great read, I love the story line, but I’ve got to know, what happened on earth? What is the deal with the Martian colonies, why didn’t they know about the humans on Earth, and what’s with the Lions, Tigers, and Bears(Oh My). Redshift, Redshift, Redshift.....

Potting the need for security vs the need to be rescued creates some interesting tensions between the characters. Even though it's scyfy it fits in nicely with the survivalist of rla zombie apocalypse.

Just finished this book. Liked this author so I tried this book. Interesting concept. It has potential for a good series. Many loose ends that could be cleared up in the future. I look forward to the next edition.

Blueshift had me shifting for each opportunity to open my reader. I do see paths to two more books with your suggested title Redshift, where Markus and Miriam learn more about the Mars colonies and plan their return to Earth, and Blue-Greenshift where the couple have fought the political battles to return to Earth.

While it was very much a departure from the Omega series, it was a solid read. Crew dynamics were good, and really am hoping to see more character building especially with Mias. Hope to see Redshift happen.

It's definitely not a sci-fi story that goes into great detail (I do read and enjoy those) but it focused instead on the relationship (or lack of) between the crew members. I would really enjoy reading more about the virus and how the martian colonies came to be.

The captain and his crew, all desperate for the familiar, land on the unknown. With all the tension, conflicts, relationships, and mechanical failures, it’s a wonder these seven have survived.

Their personality clashes put them at even further risk. Unwilling to extend trust, they’re locked into the petty grudges that have hounded each step from the inception. Marcus, the captain, has to manage an artifact launched almost a millennia ago, with a dwindling crew. Rebecca, his former spouse, had found a way onto the Daedalus, against his wishes. Nigel, the chief, and only engineer, constantly complains, shirks his duties, and is generally a pain in the neck. Jordan is the youngest, and last surviving technician, with an entire behemoth of a ship to maintain. Miriam, a scientist, is Mark’s the love interest.

The doctor, Jelly, the last surviving one, has her hands full. And, their financier Xavier, is only along for the ride. What started out with close to thirty crew, has dwindled down to the seven unfortunate people returning to Earth from nearly a decade in space. Eight centuries have passed, and home is not what it used to be.

They find themselves stranded on a now hostile Earth. They have to find a way to survive, and they’re still carrying the same mindset and baggage into a fight for survival. The race is on to find the Kepler lander, and rendezvous with a Martian rescue ship. Who will survive to get off the planet?

A few more ebook errors than normal. GREAT story. Nice twists. I do wish there was more humor, like in Omega Force, but this story line really didn't provide that opportunity. I like how this book kind of pays homage to last sci-fi story lines from other works, even if not intentional.

While it was very much a departure from the Omega series, it was a solid read. Crew dynamics were good, and really am hoping to see more character building especially with Mias. Hope to see Redshift happen.

It's definitely not a sci-fi story that goes into great detail (I do read and enjoy those) but it focused instead on the relationship (or lack of) between the crew members. I would really enjoy reading more about the virus and how the martian colonies came to be.

The captain and his crew, all desperate for the familiar, land on the unknown. With all the tension, conflicts, relationships, and mechanical failures, it’s a wonder these seven have survived.

Their personality clashes put them at even further risk. Unwilling to extend trust, they’re locked into the petty grudges that have hounded each step from the inception. Marcus, the captain, has to manage an artifact launched almost a millennia ago, with a dwindling crew. Rebecca, his former spouse, had found a way onto the Daedalus, against his wishes. Nigel, the chief, and only engineer, constantly complains, shirks his duties, and is generally a pain in the neck. Jordan is the youngest, and last surviving technician, with an entire behemoth of a ship to maintain. Miriam, a scientist, is Mark’s the love interest.

The doctor, Jelly, the last surviving one, has her hands full. And, their financier Xavier, is only along for the ride. What started out with close to thirty crew, has dwindled down to the seven unfortunate people returning to Earth from nearly a decade in space. Eight centuries have passed, and home is not what it used to be.

They find themselves stranded on a now hostile Earth. They have to find a way to survive, and they’re still carrying the same mindset and baggage into a fight for survival. The race is on to find the Kepler lander, and rendezvous with a Martian rescue ship. Who will survive to get off the planet?

A few more ebook errors than normal. GREAT story. Nice twists. I do wish there was more humor, like in Omega Force, but this story line really didn't provide that opportunity. I like how this book kind of pays homage to last sci-fi story lines from other works, even if not intentional.

I like Mr. Dalzelle as a writer. While this book is definitely different than his other books. I think it is a good step and hopefully he keeps producing quality content like this and his other series.

I understand this book is more about crew dynamics then space and sci-fi however without more development regarding mars, complete wipeout of major infrastructure, lack of radiation, total nomadic fallback etc. just feels a bit flat. Not a bad read just not overly interesting.

This book is a beautifully written love letter to mildly interesting plots, unlikable mostly psychotic characters, mercy killings (minus the mercy), and mediocrity in general. Is it terribly written? No. Is it completely uninteresting? Yes. As already pointed out in other reviews all the characters are basically psychopathic or have little to no common sense or both. You start to hate them very quickly. This is paint by numbers the novel - an “ok” outcome without any appearnt effort or creative thought on the writer’s part. This writer has produced some good sci-fi adventures in the past so I must admit I’m confused about what happened here. Skip this one and read his other works - they are good.

I'm still not really convinced that the almost 'psychotic' crew would have devolved so easily in such a short time but having said that it was made plausible by the impossibly trying conditions. A bit clichéd with only the two 'ideal' survivor's making it through but all in a good read. Looking forward to Redshift and having some of the questions answered.

Good characters. JD is always good at showing the difficulties that happen when good people are hit with hard choices..This book is entirely about that, and it's a unique take on the genre. I vote to see a sequel, but its really nice to see an author devote effort to a stand alone book these days.

Refreshingly different read. Josh makes you feel the strong emotions of his characters that few writers can do. It held my interest throughout the entire book. Hopefully there's a possibility of a sequel in the future.

I think you did a great job with something different.....having read your other novels. The character development was done very well making the book an excellent read. I, for one, would certainly enjoy a sequel to this book. Thank you, Dr Brian D Wight.

Refreshingly different read. Josh makes you feel the strong emotions of his characters that few writers can do. It held my interest throughout the entire book. Hopefully there's a possibility of a sequel in the future.

I think you did a great job with something different.....having read your other novels. The character development was done very well making the book an excellent read. I, for one, would certainly enjoy a sequel to this book. Thank you, Dr Brian D Wight.

I liked it. It was a fast easy read and the characters were pretty good. I thought the way he went with them was more real than how most writers tell such tales. It was far from his usual stuff but very interesting. Overall another good book from one of my favorite writers!

Dalzell is writing something kind of different but really good reading. The characters show our human cruelty side and the good guy side with plenty of action. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will buy the next one if he does Write it. But no disappointment here at all