Particle Horizon [Kindle Edition]

Selso Xisto (Author, Illustrator), Gretchen Ransow (Editor)

Book Description

From the blood and dust of New Jerusalem, the Legion of the LightBringer wages a galactic war against those who would replace their god. Now, the time has come for the Union of Free Worlds to make a stand. The front line is the idyllic asteroid world of Angelhaven, where the greatest mind in human history has discovered an elemental power with far-reaching implications. A power that both sides will do anything to harness.

Marine commander Gomes leads the crack Union task force. An unrelenting warrior driven by revenge and a need for answers, he hides a strange ability neither science nor religion can explain.

On the other side of the war, Aja is forced to fight for a cause she doesn't believe in to protect her own secret.

Caught between them is Una, a living machine who battles for her humanity as her world falls apart.

Outnumbered ten to one and stalked by a mysterious nemesis, all three will play a role in unraveling Angelhaven's enigma.

As the Legion invasion begins, unknown eyes watch with interest...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Semifinalist in the Kindle Book Reviews 'Best Indie Books of 2012' Competition.                     

"...In my opinion mainstream science fiction publishers should read this as for me it is as good as most of the mainstream authors out there and I would happily add him to my list of must purchase...I just hope that this is the first of many. I highly recommend this book! 5 Stars!" - Darkissreads

"If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. In short, this was fantastic!...9/10"  - The Founding Fields

"Particle Horizon is a surprisingly entertaining, well written and fast-paced science fiction book. I'm sure that readers, who aren't used to reading to science fiction, will be delighted to read this book, because the plot moves fast forward and the characters are interesting. I think that experienced readers will also enjoy this book, because the story is entertaining " 

- Risingshadow

From the Author

For more information or to leave comments for the author, visit: selsoxisto.wordpress.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 674 KB
• Print Length: 354 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Angelhaven Books; 1 edition (April 8, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007SHHAX8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,431 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Skillfully done, quality sci-fi May 4, 2012

By Debra Dunbar

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Particle Horizon follows the rules and themes of the sci-fi genre with great skill. It's the writing though that really sets this book apart. The descriptions of the amazing science that mankind has used to make these worlds livable are vivid and alive. So many sci-fi novels are dry and academic in their world-building, not this one. The Angelhaven asteroid comes to life in an artist's vision of color, texture, and sound. I found myself in reverent awe imagining the beauty as well as the destruction. The author has clearly taken time to consider every detail of the science and life in these worlds, and it shows. All the new and unfamiliar technologies were absolutely believable.

Even the seemingly been-there, done-that plot is creative and new. I wasn't sure which destructive force would most likely kill us off first, or if we'd even survive the book at all. I wasn't even convinced that the survival of mankind would be the best outcome; Armageddon at one point seemed the preferable solution. The plot flowed fast, action packed, sometimes brutal and sometimes poignant. I had a hard time putting it down.

This is a polished and sophisticated novel. Don't let the fact that it's a debut work put you off. This book easily holds its own with the big boys, and is well worth the purchase.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I broke a cardinal rule...WHAT WAS I THINKING? June 30, 2012

By William Green

Format:Kindle Edition

The cardinal rule of any reader is: Do not judge a book by it's cover. I made that mistake when I started to see Particle Horizon floating around the different blogs and websites I frequent. Not only did I judge the cover I judged the author's name. I know, what kind of horrible human being am I? I apologize in advance Selso, if you're reading this right now. I assumed Selso Xisto was a pen name born from an unfortunate draw from the scrabble bag. (Boy, I hope Selso can take a joke). If you read the interview I did with him you will see that is indeed his real name.

Particle Horizon was phenomenal! The action started pretty instantly, but it was a little confusing, because of so many new ideas happening all at once. Part of the human race living on an asteroid, flight suits (well gliding suits), artificial intelligence (not a confusing concept, but its in much greater detail in this story). Nearly constant character introductions for probably 6 or 7 chapters added to the chaos happening.

Once all the main characters were introduced and I started to understand all of the technology, then the story really opened up. The denizens of Angelhaven didn't stand a chance against the Legion of the Lightbringer. They would have to hold out until the Navy of the Union of Free Worlds arrived, but they were desperately far away.

One of the protagonist and the antagonist had names I recognized from the bible, I'm not an avid bible reader, but some names just stand out. Xavier, protagonist, is the Navy's ground commander, he is very good at his job, partially due to his special ability that no one can explain. He has a way of reading people. Cain, antagonist, is the Legion's war monger, he is also very good at his job, also due to his incredible ability, his is much darker though. He's probably one of my favorite characters, because he has absolutely no remorse for being so evil and somehow that fascinates me. I'm not sure how similar these two characters are with their bible counterparts, but i did look up Xavier and the bible version was a saint who lived several centuries ago. So I would say they are similar...in a way.

I give Particle Horizon 4 out of 5 AI Minds for superb action, fantastic characters and a well thought and very involved plot. My only complaint is the start of the story, not that it's slow, far from, but it was an awful lot of character building all at once. I'm no expert so I have no idea how this could be remedied, but if you make it to chapter 6 then you're probably already hooked. I'm going to go with a 13 or older rating on this, the ideas are huge and the technology is phenomenal, but there is no harsh language or nudity, however there is some pretty violent action. Particle Horizon

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut novel with a space opera feel June 7, 2012

By Abhinav Jain

Format:Kindle Edition

Its always dicey when you pick up a book by an author you've never heard of, irrespective of what genre you he or she is writing in. You have no references with regards to how good the author is and it is all going to depend on your own reading of their work. That was very much the case with me here.Having read a lot of debut novels this year, I'm still tentative in picking more up and giving them a try although I do have to say that my experience has been 95% positive. Selso Xisto continues that trend of positivity.

Particle Horizon is a good novel that can easily compare to a lot of the traditionally published novels out there and give them a run for their money. It has a very space opera feelto it throughout and it has a really rich cast of characters from all walks of life from Selso's speculative future. In fact, this reminds me a lot of some of the more philosophical episodes of various Star Trek shows when the characters therein consider their place in the grand scheme of things and the impact of Mankind on the universe.

If you pick up this novel, then expect a fast-paced tale of heroism, sacrifice, megalomania, fanaticism combined with building new relationships and coming into your own, free of the oppressive influences of others. I'd dearly love for the author to write a sequel to this!

A more in-depth review shall be forthcoming within the next two weeks.

More About the Author

Graduated from King's College London longer ago than seems possible, and went on to work in kid's TV for over 10 years making promos for Disney and Cartoon Network. Perhaps as an antidote he writes gritty, epic science fiction; forever his first love.

Surviving his ongoing obsession with fast motorbikes and flirtation with the underrated virtual worlds of videogames, he somehow found time to put to paper his long-gestating scifi epic. Influenced by the great space opera of Peter F Hamilton and Yokinobu Hoshino, as well as a lifetime of digesting the classics of Greg Bear and Arthur C Clarke, he lives and breathes SciFi in all its forms.

He lives in London with his awesome cat.