F.T.L. (Ace Science Fiction) [Paperback]

Kevin D. Randle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2004 | Series: Ace Science Fiction

First there were signs of alien life in Signals. Then Starship launched the tale of humanity's next step toward the stars. Now, in F.T.L., the quest for faster-than-light travel begins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Original edition (August 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441011926
• ISBN-13: 978-0441011926
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kevin D. Randle is a retired lieutenant colonel who served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and in Iraq as a battalion intelligence officer. He began writing for UFO magazines and eventually moved onto books. A goal had been to publish science fiction and to join the Science Fiction Writers of America. He has appeared on countless radio and television programs in the mid-1990s hosted his own show on KTSM Radio in El Paso, Texas. To prove that he hasn't been stuck in a rut, he has written books about UFOs, science fiction, action adventure and even a vampire novel called, cleverly, VAMPYR. Someday he hopes to be on The Amazing Race. His blog can be found at www.KevinRandle.blogspot.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars To The Stars, April 18, 2005

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: F.T.L. (Ace Science Fiction) (Paperback)

In the third book we are back to the Galaxy Exploration Team, now on Mars, and their efforts to create faster than light (FTL) travel. It had long thought to be impossible, but contact with the aliens showed it could be done. The project is important to humanity but may cause trouble for individual humans. Some may even want to see the project fail. But even without outside interference, there are still problems that need to be overcome, both technical and human.

Unmanned ships are tested and eventually a crew containing the GET is sent on a mission to Alpha Centauri. The Generation ships are still very close to the Solar system and will be passed by if the tests are successful. There is plenty of scheming and politicking, but from fewer parties than the first book (no Senate races or reporters this time).

Like with the second book, many of the chapter sections end with foreshadowing statements that drive the reader to want to continue reading. Unfortunately the book did not get proofed well and typos abound. Usually it is easy to tell what was meant at the time so it is not a real problem. My one beef was that one of the villains had one motive at the beginning of the book but a different one later with no explanation. Since we got into his head the first time we tend to believe it but there was nothing to refute the second.

The series is called The Exploration Chronicles and there is plenty of room for more books to be written in the series. After enjoying the first three I hope that we will, indeed, see more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fitting End..., September 21, 2004

By 

Fr. Robert F. Lyons "Priest / Sci-Fi Buff" (Bargersville, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: F.T.L. (Ace Science Fiction) (Paperback)

It was just about eighteen months ago when I picked up volume 1 of Randle's series "The Exploration Chronicles". Now, having finished book three, I can say the series was worth my time.

Book Three is not a direct sequel to book two, which was (IMO) the weakest of the three books. Book three picks up with Hackett and company on Mars, in charge of the Galactic Exploration Command, and ends in a manner that even I didn't see coming until nearly the end.

Hints and thoughts are laid out for us all over the book as to how the story ends, but in the end the obvious answer isn't the right one.

This book had some seriously odd editorial blunders- misspelled words and names, and even the inclusion of some non-words, but it doesn't take away from Randle's excellent novel that much.

The ending seems to be begging for another book, so we shall see what Randle has in store. Even if you didn't like book two, have a look at book three. I think you'll find it more to your liking.