Anomaly

By: Peter Cawdron

Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Anomaly examines the prospect of an alien intelligence discovering life on Earth. The technological gulf between humanity and the alien species is measured in terms of millions of years. The only way to communicate is using science, but not everyone is so patient.

Humanity's first contact with an alien intelligence is far more radical than anyone has ever dared imagine. With a technological gap of millions of years, mankind is barely able to recognize the arrival of an alien space craft outside the gates of the United Nations in New York.

©2011 Peter Cawdron (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

This is what sci-fi should be!!!

Anomaly by Peter Cawdron is the book that made me a big Peter Cawdron fan! This just raps up so much of what I love in sci-fi. This is a must for anyone that loves sci-fi! The earth starts rumbling, and the next thing, a giant sphere, several stories tall is floating. Flag poles, half of them, still standing inside the sphere, but the sphere doesn't stay like that. It changes density, pressures, and then, it starts to grow....something. Nations go crazy because they all want a piece of it. Religions go nuts. This is so good...so many surprises...it is remarkable! Brain food!!!
I read/listened the audible version and the narrator, P. J. Ochlan, was totally on it! The tension, the emotions, the fear, excitement, the multitude of voices, all done to perfection!

Very good sci-fi without glorifying violence

A touch on the preachy side (not religious, but sociologically). Also, some of the dialog is a little unrealistic; people just don’t talk that way. However, it is wonderful to get some good sci-fi without all the violence. Pretty hard to find

Take a chance!

If you like your science fiction to make you think, take a chance on this book. There are a few stumbles, but it made me think and re-think even though I was reading for pleasure. The author’s afterward gives some more understanding on why he wrote it and made it worth listening to until the end.

great thinking science fiction

I enjoyed that it was a very thoughtful look at first contact. It did not overawe with battles and high tech, but made me look into myself regarding preconceptions. I would very much like to read/listen to more in this vein

The Audible narrator was terrible!

The main female character sounds like she has a lisp? She sounds like a female impersonator! The story itself is very fun and interesting I had to go back and read it without the narrator!!! He needs to stick to children's books! His voice inflections are all wrong for this story.

A thoughtful approach to first contact story...

Anomaly is a very thoughtful, and well written look at a possible First Contact scenario... We get a front row seat from the eyes of a grade school science teacher, David Teller, as he's inducted into the best team of scientists NASA has to offer. Something very alien... an anomaly, has simply appeared in front of the U.N. Building, in New York City. David and the team try to work out what the anomaly really is, and could communication with the anomaly actually be possible?
If you're an adrenaline junkie looking for a lot of intense action, this isn't the book for you. What the story gives us is a more scientific approach to trying to understand the potentially different perspectives and motivations of a different species.
Initially, I didn't quite take a shine to PJ Ochlan's style of narration, but as the story progresses and new characters were added, I realized that I'd been mistaken in my judgment of his talents. He's actually quite good!
Altogether, Anomaly was engrossing and enjoyable, and well worth reading/listening to!

Really enjoyed a thoughtful story

with great characters negotiating a positive and thoughtful story line. the very human nature that enabled the survival of our species is holding us back from our next evolutionary step forward.

Excellent Book

If you could sum up Anomaly in three words, what would they be?

Exploration, Change & Faith

What was one of the most memorable moments of Anomaly?

The tone of the book was set with a balloon. It was an interesting idea. Which the rest of the story depends on. Very enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

Unfortunately there was a very significant error in the early stages of the book w.r.t. physics and chemistry. But the book still works well with it present.

I will hint at it here.
Up for Gravity is perpendicular to the surface. Up for Air pressure may not be the same.

Loved it. Great first contact book

It was recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks podcast and I am glad they did.

Fun book that had me finish in just a couple days.

Very creative sci-fi!

Well written and thought provoking. Looking forward to the other work from this author.