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ABLE (Jim Able: Offworld Book 1) by [Ed Charlton]

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Ed Charlton

ABLE (Jim Able: Offworld Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Ed Charlton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

13 ratings

Book 1 of 9: Jim Able: Offworld

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To Do: Find alien, avoid starting war, submit expenses

Jim Able likes working offworld, especially since he doesn't like his boss breathing down his neck. Not trusting Jim after an ill-fated mission, she gives him a new assignment with a warning, "Don’t start a war!"

Jim dives into finding an alien who doesn't want to be found. He makes an ally in the Turcanian scientist, Madhar Nect, who introduces him to the religious sect hiding his target.
Too intent on notching up a successful mission, Jim is one tiny lie away from starting the war he was warned to avoid.

Jim Able: Offworld is for readers who enjoy quirky aliens, flawed humans, and heroes who work in outer space but must still submit expense reports back at the office. Join the adventure of discovering new worlds and perspectives, first contacts, and unexpected encounters.

Episodes #1 thru #4 chronicle Jim's accidental and dangerous first contact on Turcanis Major V-I.
Episodes #5 thru #9 chronicle a mystery leading Jim to a conflict between the neighboring planets Tanna Gul and Tanna Jorr and the secret that ties them together.

Print length

66 pages
Language

English
Publication date

December 13, 2016
File size

5713 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

From an Amazon.co.uk customer

James Zhan
5 out of 5 stars Tongue-in-cheek sci-fi
12 February 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Fun, funny, quick read. It's an affectionate space opera parody -- not as gratuitously silly as Douglas Adams or as crude as Red Dwarf, but that's the sort of thing. Stainless Steel Rat is the closest reference I can think of. It's not a complete story; this is 'episode 1'. It raises more mysteries than it resolves and ends on a 'to be continued'. Hope episode 2 will follow soon.

About the Author

Ed Charlton grew up in England.After many years toiling in corporate data systems, he followed his true calling: books and writing.
Since 2005, Ed has supplied services to indie authors through his company Scribbulations LLC and writes constantly.

In 1963, Ed was part of the original target demographic for Doctor Who, long before society realized the effect of sci-fi on the young. As an adult, he has a reputation for asking, in the middle of long BBC dramas, "When do the aliens land?"

He is a member of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County, NJ, and the founder of The Write Group: Kennett Square.

Ed writes science fiction in the classic mold-with humor and intelligence.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01MQW26IP
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribbulations LLC (December 13, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5713 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 66 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #263,655 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #705 in Two-Hour Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Reads
- #935 in Metaphysical Science Fiction eBooks
- #2,111 in Two-Hour Literature & Fiction Short Reads

Customer Reviews:
13 ratings

About the author

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Ed Charlton

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ed Charlton grew up in England. After many years toiling in corporate data systems, he followed his true calling: books and writing.

Since 2005, Ed has supplied services to indie authors through his company Scribbulations LLC and writes constantly.

In 1963, Ed was part of the original target demographic for Doctor Who, long before society realized the effect of sci-fi on the young. As an adult, he has a reputation for asking, in the middle of long BBC dramas, "When do the aliens land?"

He is a member of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County, NJ, and the founder of The Write Group: Kennett Square.

Ed writes science fiction in the classic mold-with humor and intelligence.

Customer reviews

5 star		45%
4 star		32%
3 star		12%
2 star		12%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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H. W. Stone

I shall break from the previous eight--

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is interesting, very, very interesting, but it is also tedious and embraces leaps of connection that simply do not make sense.

Pathogens and toxins would not be species specific, but they are ignored here. Also ignored is that what could be a toxin to one species might be nutrient to another species, and somehow the biological issues are simply ignored.

I frequently was compelled to re-read and re-re-read a paragraph to ensure I had followed the thoughts put forth and accept the actions in the manner they met the story. Most of the story was based on "don't worry about it" leaps past the species interaction and/or lifeforms and environment. Gee, we are aliens but we breathe the same air and drink the same water and eat the same things and no one even gets a tummy ache from it, let alone any greater level of reaction.

The style, pace, and structure did accurately reflect administrative bureaucracy format goals and actions in a distressing way, so that more or less fit the story. The investigation, accumulation of material facts, and an incredibly quick leap to understanding both gross statements and tiny subsets of modification to fit a specific circumstance to the story interactions simply popped up-- too quickly and too easily--

And the whole "oh gee you are a spaceman come in and have a seat" with "thank you, I would like to do that" as a reaction was just too pat. Use the word "pat" and "PAT" as an acronym and there are well over a hundred different results in American English, and the number grows quickly with other languages. Having it slide easily through a huge number of possibilities is not something to be expected at a second level of contact.

It is interesting, but takes too much for granted, so I felt that halfway between horrible and great is where it landed, so I gave it a 3 out of 5 rating.

At least there wasn't a bar fight in the opening paragraph-- that is good.

.

Helpful

kindle reader

ALBE is the first book in The Able Series. ...

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

ALBE is the first book in The Able Series. You’ll meet Jim Able the Earthman, an “officer of information” in the Earth’s Office of External Affairs in the Department of Extra-Solar Activities, who’s spacecraft hovers above the northern pole of Turcanis Major V; Professor Madhar Nect, of the Latsin Institute, presenter of Science World; Edward of Turcanis, a Barottin Regdenir, who appears as the blue-cloaked Sopha.

Ed Charlton spins a tale that’ll have you turning the pages to find out more about the Earthman and the Regdenir. What is Able’s mission? Who will be Able’s first contact and how will he do it? How will he find Sopha Luca, and will Sopha meet with Able and welcome him as a guest? The part about eating blancar, the fish with no bones - or perhaps a worm, is stomach churning.

ABLE’s story is Episode One. SOPHA’s story continues in the next episode.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

A rare and very fine example of intelligent science fiction and space opera.

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is really good science fiction slash space opera. Amusing and intelligent but let us not forget that first contacts (planetary contacts) are a delicate business. Things can easily go wrong. Is Jim Able up to the task?

The internet-like messaging is brilliant. However, it may require an above average intelligence to fully appreciate.

If you loved Douglas Adam's A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you'll love Ed Charlton's Able (Episode One).

One person found this helpful

Helpful

diendrial

No wars please!

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2017

Verified Purchase

What a fun series this is going to turn out to be! If everything goes well, Jim Able won't start a war! Got me chuckling and amazed at the science. Good job!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Katie R

A fun read

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is a fun story of first contact between Earthman Jim Able and the inhabitants of another star system. It's imaginative and humorous and I look forward to book 2.

Helpful

Dr Susan

Great sci fi adventure? episode

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2021

Most bureaucrats would not be expected to star as the main character of a sci fi adventure. But Jim Able's job isn't boring, bureaucratic, or safe. I enjoyed episode 1 and will continue with this unique adventute.

Helpful