Genellan: Planetfall (Genellan, Book 1)

I enjoyed Genellan: Planetfall. It has the elements I like in a space epic: Marines check, women leaders check, paranoid alien species check, friendly aliens check, battles between crafts in space check, battle with small units on the ground check, difficult situations to survive check.
The story maintained a balance between hope and unlikelihood of survival.

It was frustrating that almost every female on the human team becomes pregnant. Although it is great that the team is fighting to protect their babies, you can't get better motivation than that. But, is that the what women are consigned to in the future? I always like when horses can be made to play a part in a space adventure! We don't get that enough.

The military tactics seemed show more rudimentary, but that is OK for me, I don't see this as military fiction. During many battles, I was thinking, why don't they move their units differently, But after all the leaders are not experienced soldiers, they are doing the best they can. The final battle sequence was heartbreaking and the question was in doubt until the very end.

I think the ideal audience for this book is someone looking for light space adventure. It is not hard science or hard military. The reader must like horses, bats and babies. I enjoyed it and have bought the next one in the series to start. show less

Started interestingly. But, as you went, you could tell that the author cared much more about the adventures of the military team of human survivors than any actual sci fi.

The alien planet was just earth with alien versions of buffalo, bears, eagles, etc on it. And the not one but two intelligent alien species where immediately unveiled with narratives from their view, and were nothing more than human native analogs and human high militaristic society analogs.

Add to this that this is a 'modern' sci fi book that spans close to 500 pages, I essentially got bored and just stopped reading it.

Also, the adventures starting turning into perilous events happening for the sole purpose of being perilous adventures.

The book starts with an exploration fleet looking for a new home. When they enter the star system they are planning to explore, hostile aliens attack them. The fleet escapes. But one corvette is badly damaged and leaves a small portion of its crew and a small detachment of marines stranded on a wilderness planet. This planet, Genellan, just happens to be the home to another species.

The book is well written and is the story of the human's attempts to survive and make a home. And the interactions between the three species are told from their own perspective. Giving us good insight. The characters are likable and Gier's story flows. I did not want to put the book down. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

The survivors of a space battle semi-crash land on a habitable planet and learn to survive and even proper a bit.

Space marines land on Genellan and find that their training comes in handy in surviving. Genellan is a hard place to live and the marines find that out all too quickly. Winter just about conquers them when they make contact with natives who take them in.

The marines are getting along ok, even having babies, when highly paranoid aliens from a sister planet arrive and make trouble.

A fun read. Quick and entertaining.