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Perilous Waif  By  cover art

Perilous Waif

By: E. William Brown
Narrated by: Mare Trevathan
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Publisher's summary

My name is Alice Long, and I've always known I was different.

When I was little I used to climb up to the highest branches of the housetree at night, and watch the starships docking at the orbital stations high above. Forty meters off the ground, watching ships 30,000 kilometers overhead, with senses that could pick out radar pings and comm chatter as easily as the ships themselves. It all seemed perfectly natural at the time.

There were other kids with mods at the orphanage, but nothing like that. I learned fast to downplay my abilities, keep my mouth shut, and try to blend in. Even as a kid I knew not to trust the Matrons. What would they do if they realized the Adjustments that were supposed to make me a meek little herd animal didn't do anything?

Then I messed up and gave myself away.

Now I'm on the run, hoping against hope that the Matrons won't try too hard to find me. Hoping to survive all the awful things that can happen to a girl on her own in space. Kidnappers, slavers, pirates, and yakuza - no matter where I go, trouble always seems to find me.

Good thing I'm not as helpless as I look.

©2017 E. William Brown (P)2017 E. William Brown

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What listeners say about Perilous Waif

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Awesome!

A uniquely original and exciting sci-fi universe that is extraordinarily well thought out. Eagerly awaiting the next installment from the author.

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6 people found this helpful

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  • E
  • 03-12-19

Despite the MC and Premise, this is NOT a YA Novel

If you like your Hard SF to require multiple appendices to explain the tech tree, and to not shy away from the weird future those advances will bring, this is the book for you. It's also incredibly accessible despite those traits (if you can stomach the terrible implications).

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Sci-Fi assumptions so elegant their beautiful

Perilous Waif is truly special in how it fully accounts for all the likely technologies that can be predicted from a modern perspective in a mostly optimistic manner while maintaining the stories true focus on empathisable characters and relevant philosophical and moral questions. truly a prime example of what modern hard Sci-Fi should be.

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Awesome Book

I enjoyed this book, Perilous Waif was a unique and stimulating read, I am looking forward to the next book a lot!

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    3 out of 5 stars

Well written, just not for me

The narration was great and the action and intrigue was well written. I just dont think I was the target demographic (34, m), with the main character being a 14 yr old girl and a lot of the book revolving around her maturing sexually, it just didn't hit for me.

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a new joy

being rather pickey its a happy pleasure to find a new author and story to enjoy.

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I love it

awesome book! Need a 2nd book, I need to know what happens to Alice :D

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Refreshing SciFi

Brown uses contemporary tech in fascinating extensions while simultaneously weaving personalities in characters along multiple plot lines that come together unexpectedly, for a total experience that dramatically refreshes the SciFi genre. Look forward to many more brilliant novels from this author!

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Splendid

definitely a great read full of action I hope there will be more in this series

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Favorite Audio Story/Performance so far!

Captured attention from the first few lines and kept you eagering listening until the very last word. I cannot praise the Audio Performer enough. Her acting and varied voices she used were spot on!

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