Thursday, February 27, 2025

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett. This book releases this coming Tuesday, March 4. And y'all! It's so good! One of the best sci-fi books I've read in a long time! 

About the Book
The fight for the space mission begins in his homeworld.

Brock Rivers never wanted to be a repairman on Mars. Years ago, he failed to protect his family, and now he labors across a frontier planet to keep his children alive and escape CAUSE. But the spacefaring humanist regime is taking over Martian colonies, forcing all to join the secular state.

Back in Brock’s homeworld, his people summon him to fulfill old hopes with a new dream. After decades of cultural isolation, they plan to restore missions for the 22nd century, voyaging beyond Earth to share the gospel in space. Brock must find a ship and recruit a team of misfit believers. They expect opposition from the formidable CAUSE, but not from a more deceptive enemy.

One adversary attacks from the shadows to destroy the faithful. Others unify to oppose the project. Brock and his family must fight to resist these enemies of the space mission or else return to exile forever.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday
Crimson light flared in the darkness, beating with the emergency tone that pulsed in Brock's head. He drew himself out of the warmth, facing quadrupled flashes that silently cried out e-mer-gen-cy, e-mer-gen-cy. Dim hovering text summarized the call for help. A new dome in Xanthe Terra was leaking air, one percent in the last hour, cause unknown.

Friday 56
Brock met with Alexander and found no protesters had pursued them inside. The postgrad student who fetched their appetizers didn't mention the outside mess.

What have you been reading lately?

8 comments:

  1. I love this kind of science fiction book. Thanks for the heads up about this one. I'll have to look for it. :D

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    1. Awesome! I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too if you get the chance to read it! Hope you have a wonderful week, Lark! :D

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  2. A futuristic book set on Mars. It got me thinking about how bleak it must be to live on a planet where you can't breathe the air. I hope you are enjoying it.

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    1. Thanks! I loved it! I imagine it'd be pretty tough to live on Mars. Hope you have a great week, Anne! :)

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  3. Such a pretty cover and it sounds good too! It sounds like it starts out with a bang. I will have to look for this one. I am glad you are enjoying it! Have a great weekend, Ashley.

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    1. It's been a while since I've read a hard sci-fi book like this, but I loved it! It's such an interesting premise. Hope you have an awesome week! :)

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    1. I haven't read as much as I would like. I'm hoping to remedy that. Hope you have a great rest of the week! :)

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