Citadel: First Colony

The Citadel Trilogy, Book 1

By: Kevin Tumlinson

Narrated by: Bryant Sullivan

Turns out, crashing is the easy part.

It's been more than a century since humanity escaped the overpopulation of Earth, expanding out among the stars. We've faced and overcome war with an alien race. We've survived terrorist attacks meant to end colonization. We've thrived despite unregulated class distinctions, separating the wealthy from the working class.

What comes next may be the end of it all.

A lone colony of human castaways, led by a former alien enemy, find themselves at the mercy of a saboteur and a plot to end humanity's unrestricted travel among the stars. This could be the finale of the colonies and the end of a species. Everything depends on how smart - and how forgiving - humanity can actually be.

©2010 Kevin Tumlinson (P)2016 Kevin Tumlinson

Classic Science Fiction that's part Thriller!

Would you listen to Citadel: First Colony again? Why?

I’ve had the e-book version of First Colony on my Kindle for months. However, I’ve also been extremely busy lately and my “to-read” list continues to grow. When I saw that Tumlinson brought it to Audible, I figured this was my chance to spend one of the credits I was holding on to. So one day last month, I listened to the first three hours from the seat of my riding lawn mower. Bryant Sullivan does an excellent job as the narrator. I don’t think Tumlinson could have picked a better guy. I ended up jumping back and forth between Audible and Kindle after that; it’s easier to read on the Kindle than listen to an audio book when my wife is sleeping next to me.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

A criticism I have about many modern books and movies are the trends of making everyone an anti-hero and blurring the lines between good and evil. Tumlinson does a good job doing that with some characters and not with others. He has some legitimate good guys, like Somar, and he also has the ones that keep you guessing. Just when you figure them out, something changes.

Which character – as performed by Bryant Sullivan – was your favorite?

I thought the cast of characters was excellent, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be Somar the Esool. He provided much needed leadership, struggling to keep the colony united and focused on their survival, while dealing with class rivalries and prejudice. Somar is an old school good guy, a cross between John Wayne and Mr. Spock. He is the type of man that maintains his cool under pressure and isn’t afraid to make the tough decisions.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cry? Absolutely not. I am a man for Pete's sake. I laughed a few times maybe, but my extreme reaction was just enjoying the heck out of the story.

Any additional comments?

I rate Citadel: First Colony a solid five stars. Tumlinson has winner with this one, and I can’t wait to read or listen to the next in the series. I haven’t been as excited about a sci-fi series since I read the Heechee Saga by Frederik Pohl 25 years ago. This book rekindled (no pun intended) my love of science fiction.