J Dunn

More VR training for the Rayas crew

Revisado: 05-03-25

The colony ship bound for Rayas has left Earth orbit on its way to the new world filled with thousands of teenagers as colonists and some crew members. The long journey means that most of the colonists are in a "sleep" mode, where they are feed via IVs and strapped down. However; they are able to participate in VR training. There is two levels of VR, one where the individuals believe that they are going to "school" most days learning history, language, math, science, etc and then during after hours and on "week-ends" they are allow to leave the school building and go to the "beach" and mingle with their fellow colonists.

The other level of VR is where the main character Gabe and some of his fellow classmates/roommates enter a more hands-on training. The first main adventure Gabe learns how to find iron ore, make charcoal, heat the ore and get sponge iron which he takes to a VR blacksmith who proceeds to heat the iron and using his hammer to make an ingot of iron. Gabe feels that he needs to be able to understand the hands-on aspect of producing metal when they land on the colony planet of Rayas but he also wants to expand/improve his leadership skill. Which leads to the second VR adventure where Gabe and his friends are placed in the ancient Maya culture and are given a goal. Gabe draws upon his experience in the Pueblo culture (book 1 of Rayas Colony) and expands his magic quotient. He leads his team on their quest even with several unexpected hiccups along the way.

I am still not sure if Gabe and friends are really on a space ship headed toward Rayas or that is just another level of VR reality.

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Is this just a game or is it real?

Revisado: 04-25-25

I normally don't lean towards stories that feature LitRPG but I was pulled in by the synopsis and the free download of the audio book narrated by virtual voice. The story is about Gabe a 16 year old boy living in Guadalajara who was able to secure a berth on a colony space ship that will soon launch toward planet Rayas. As part of the pre-flight training he is attending AI classes at the camp in Northern Mexico. Ginger is able to integrate the LitRPG score card with the AI virtual reality scenarios without too much distraction that I have found in other LitRPG stories. Gabe "lives" in several historical events with the first big focus on an ancient Pueblo location that is experiencing a mega-drought and conflict. But since he is really going to school at the training camp he will often wake up in his dorm room and then go to classes before returning to his current virtual reality. During one of these breaks several late comers arrive at the training camp with armed guards and gunfire. The ensuring battle at the training camp causes the organizers/leaders of the space ship to move up the launch date. Gabe makes it to the space ship on one of the last shuttles to leave planet Earth. Gabe also gets into several other AI virtual reality scenes after classes start up on the space ship while still in Earth orbit. The last major AI scene deals with how Southern California gets clobbered by a gigantic earthquake and Gabe and his classmates have to escape the destruction and decide to go south to Mexico. But the way the story goes maybe, just maybe even the space ship going to Rayas is just another AI scenario!

The virtual voice narration is good, just a few weird pronunciations. I got used to the VV "accent" quickly. The word multiply is one example that VV had difficulty with.

Ginger has done well in world building each of the virtual reality scenarios that Gabe and his friends encounter. She helps you feel the heat and smoke of fire, the intense physical interaction of battle as well as the magic of the inventory bag of the LitRPG. The character Gabe grows in experience and power as the story progresses and he strives to better himself and his LitRPG scores in many categories. This is the first book of a trilogy and most of it is not about Rayas Colony. Hope to read more about Rayas in the next book, Rayas Colony Stone.

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short story

Revisado: 11-21-24

My first audio book listen that was read by virtual voice, not bad.

Choppy story, probably because it is a short book, no words to transition scenes or do much character development. I also am not that keen for "game" tokens inserts such as lines for bonus points for completing a task, etc.

Perhaps use this as a springboard to a full length novel explaining what an operator is and how pirate space ships can afford to exist. The antagonists (drones) remind me of the Borg from Star Trek.

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Book 3 in the series of the assassin and the lady

Revisado: 11-18-24

The two main characters comes together and separate as they battle internal corruption and a gathering enemy fleet. Natiise gets a better understanding of her fire dragon while Kullen endures torture and multiple battles with traitors. They save each other on several occasions. Red Claw is revealed at the end of book 3.

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a 3 for 1 bundle

Revisado: 03-04-24

Three stories are bundled into this audio book, Storm Over Warlock, Ordeal in Otherwhere and Forerunner Foray. Ordeal is a sequel to Storm and both are placed on the planet Worlock while Forerunner only has a casual connection to Warlock.

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two for one

Revisado: 11-16-23

two classic Norton adventures, Star Guard and Star Ranger together. almost like the old paperback days when you could buy one book with two complete novels. Enjoyed both stories. Norton always was able to weave a great story!

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Always on the run!

Revisado: 12-21-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This is one of the longer story that I have listened to by William Brown. The story starts out when a guy recently widowed finds out both his wife and himself had recently passed away and services were scheduled for the next day. He is warned not to interfere but that only makes him more curious. This starts a series of road trips and train rides around the eastern United States as he goes from one bad situation to another. Along the way he finds a kickass lady who insists on tagging along. A lot of twists and turns and surprises.

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Arab terrorist trys to assassinate POTUS

Revisado: 10-24-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Great take on how to plan a long range attempt on the President's life. The FBI, the Egyptians and Israelis initially work together to try to find a determined and clever Arab terrorist. The Israelis bail and leave the problem to a FBI agent, the Egyptian ambassador and an uncooperative Secret Service. Nail biter!

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Turmoil in Egypt early 60s

Revisado: 10-01-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

A has been drunken US spy finds himself in the middle of mistaken identity scenario. The Egyptian police, German mercanaries and his own embassy agents are after him. An old RAF base outside of Cairo keeps pulling him into his spy mode and putting his life in danger. Meanwhile an Army Colonel is plotting to overthrow Nassar. The two situations come together at "Thursday at Noon" when two V2 rockets are to be launched from the old RAF base.

A good spy thriller based in 1962 Egypt. Ex-Nazi German SS troops and scientists play a big part in the story plus some insight into Egyptian culture and resentment aimed at Britain.

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Late WWII spy story

Revisado: 10-19-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

American agent in Germany falls for German girl who is working for the Russians. Plenty of twists and unforseen tragedies. The American is sent back to Germany to extract some important jet designers and engineers near the end of the war and runs into his girlfriend trying to get the same people to Russia.

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