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Patricia Smith
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Distant Suns - The Journey Home Kindle Edition

by Patricia Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 52 ratings
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The crew of the star ship Terra - the last hope to avoid extinction for the human race - are nearly two years from the dying planet Earth, when their four thousand year long journey, to reach the first possible habitable world, is unexpectedly halted.****Praise for the Distant Suns series:"I would recommend to any new reader to start off with the first book and work through the story. What you will find is a quick fast action series that is a non-stop page turner. The level of thought which has went in the books are amazing and written in such a way that draws you in without needing any techno-speak. An absolute great series of books." Pigeon Master."I was blown away by this wonderful storyline and the believable science behind it! Written so perfectly - I fell in love with the characters and I joined them on an emotional journey throughout - I'd highly recommend this book to anyone - even those that don't usually choose this type of read!" Amazon Customer.****The woman moved away from the cabin and hurried across the plain towards the valley at the far side. Bones, baked in the unbridled sun, littered the landscape and the desiccated soil, now nothing more than clay and dust, was cracked and bare. On the horizon, the receding moon silhouetted the shadows of lost lives as it dipped behind the skeletal remains of a once majestic forest and to the right a deep depression marked the position of a lake, now dry and barren, its former fertility validated by the shriveled husks strewn across the base.She stopped to catch her breath. The thin air made periods of exertion impossible and anything other than a casual walk was becoming increasingly difficult. Once recovered, she again checked she was not being followed before making her way to the edge of the valley and around the ravine. The cave was close by and shielded, from the top, by densely packed shrubs. She pushed against the branches then, as the dried withered leaves crumbled in her hand, slid between wood and rock until she slipped into the cool dark interior of the cliff. Every day she feared the worst and every day she was relieved to find they still had not been discovered. She dropped to her knees and checked the contents of the first. This small cavern, cut out of the rock thousands of years ago by wind and rain, provided the perfect environment for her water-gathering devices. The cave, slightly cooler than the outside air, accumulated moisture in the depths of night, which was then collected in small jugs beneath plastic sheets. A number of such devices scattered around the floor provided just enough water for the two of them to survive. She sat back and rested a moment before amassing her yield. The sharp corner of a folded sheet of paper, nestled inside her clothing like a baby in a pouch, pressed uncomfortably against a rib. She looked down and slipped her hand inside the fabric to retrieve the document. It had started to come apart some time ago and was now held together with a great deal of tape. It was yellow and frayed, and she only looked at it occasionally as a rare treat. Carefully, she opened out the sheet, as though it were the most pure gold, until it was spread across her lap. This was more valuable than gold, though, especially now, and she would kill to protect it, as it was all that remained of a decimated life. * * *Distant Suns - The Journey Home is the sequel to Distant Suns.Distant Suns - The Journey Home is also available in paperback.Also by Patricia Smith: Distant Suns, Distant Suns - The Silexous, Time Split, Time Split - Briggs, Islands - The Epidemic and Nebathan.
Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 4
    Distant Suns
  2. Print length
    188 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    August 21, 2013
  6. File size
    763 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I would recommend to any new reader to start off with the first book and work through the story. What you will find is a quick fast action series that is a non-stop page turner. The level of thought which has went in the books are amazing and written in such a way that draws you in without needing any techno-speak. An absolute great series of books." Pigeon Master.

"I was blown away by this wonderful storyline and the believable science behind it! Written so perfectly - I fell in love with the characters and I joined them on an emotional journey throughout - I'd highly recommend this book to anyone - even those that don't usually choose this type of read!" Amazon Customer.

About the Author

I have enjoyed writing stories all my life. I also have a fascination for astronomy and science and would lie in bed from a very young age looking at the stars. I joined a local astronomy group when I received my first telescope, for Christmas, seven years ago. Since then I've enjoyed many a night, freezing until I can't stand it anymore, looking at the delights of the Universe and the magical wonders of alien worlds. I started my career in computing, but presently work at a college helping students to improve their maths and English. The rest of my time is worked around my writing. I live in Northumberland, England, with my husband and three cats. Whenever possible, we (not the cats) like to fit in some walking and mountain biking in the magnificent Northumberland and Kielder hills. I have been writing for ten years now. In that time I have written the novella, Time Split, the novels: Distant Suns, Distant Suns - The Journey Home and Islands Beneath the Sea. I strive in my writing to give you a rollercoaster ride of emotions and excitement, mixed in with a good dash of fear - all from the safety of your armchair.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EPF56RI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 1st edition (August 21, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 21, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 763 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 188 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1492727849
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

About the author

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Patricia Smith

Patricia Smith

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Patricia Smith is absolutely nuts about astronomy and writing apocalyptic thrillers. You can't shut her up about either.

She has enjoyed writing stories all of her life and her first novel Time Split, which has been on several best sellers lists, was published in 2011. This was soon followed by her Distant Suns stories and more recently Islands - The Epidemic.

She started her career in computing, but presently works to help people improve their numeracy and English skills. The rest of her time is worked around her writing.

She lives in Newcastle, England, with her husband.

Her choice of genre stems from her love of apocalyptic thrillers and the 'What if?' scenario.

She strives in her writing to give the reader a roller-coaster ride of emotions and excitement, mixed in with a good dash of fear - all from the safety of their armchair.

More recently she has released a collection of short stories based on her time as a hedgehog carer. As a hedgehog carer for many years, Patricia has come to see the funny side to these wonderful, colourful little creatures. These experiences have now been put into print and the short novel, Hedgehog Hotel was brought to life. These stories were enhanced further by the wonderful illustrations carried out by Meg Dobson-Armstrong.

You can contact Patricia at: www.patriciasmithsfauthor.com

You can contact Meg Dobson-Armstrong, illustrator for Hedgehog Hotel: Funny, true stories of a family's time as hedgehog carers, for illustrations at: megdobsonarmstrong@gmail.com

You can contact David Jackson, illustrator of the cover for Islands - The Epidemic, for illustrations at: jackson_designs@hotmail.com

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
52 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

KsrgmcK
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable science fiction.
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
It's nice, for a change, to read an "end of earth" scenario that isn't the direct result of humanity misusing the planet. In other words, a great sci-if story that doesn't have an agenda or get preachy.

Every bit as good as the book that precedes it, I look forward to more from Patricia Smith!
3 people found this helpful
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Mississippi Malka
4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, fun read , but some irritating mannerisms
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
Probably I would give this book a 3.80 star rating if I could. Its a fun space opera, but not much more. No real science, simple characters. But I read this and its sequel.

I'm a writer and editor, so grammatical errors bug me. There weren't many. But as I read, I encountered one of my pet peeves - the usage of amongst and whilst!

These words have really fallen out if use. Using them sounds as if the writer is trying to sound like some fancy writer.

Please, knock it off!
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Literary R&R
5.0 out of 5 stars Looking Forward To Seeing What Comes Next
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2015
Charlene's Review:

This is a sequel to Ms. Smith’s Distant Suns, a story of a deadly hydrogen cloud headed for Earth. As it gets closer, Jupiter intercepts the cloud and changes to it and the surrounding atmosphere mix to signal the eventual end of life on Earth. Select individuals are given a space on mankind's last hope for survival, the Star Ship Terra.

In The Journey Home, Ms Smith picks up two years later, and the civilians and crew of the starship are adapting well. The purpose of their journey is to ensure the survival of the human race and allow future generations to find a suitable home on another planet. They hold no hope for ever seeing their beloved planet Earth, or any remaining family and friends, again. When they are unexpectedly stopped along their journey, they must make a critical choice as to whether to continue on, or return to Earth and look for survivors.

Ms. Smith has a writing style that draws you in, quickly. There were a few surprises inside this sequel that I would never have expected, as she leaned heavily on astronomy and science in the first book. I was a little skeptical at first, as to how the new events would alter the original storyline, but it worked, and led to a whole new opportunity for the characters I loved so much from the first book.

I hate to let all the secrets out, so I will just say, if you have not heard of Patricia Smith, I do believe you will. She has a gift for intelligent, believable science fiction with a heart for engaging characters. I was especially delighted to see she left a possibility open for a third book with brand new dynamics, and I do hope she will allow me the pleasure of reviewing it. I will be looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

*A physical copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lorraine
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2015
Verified Purchase
I thought the first one was excellent this was even better, continuing on from the first but different problems and issues well written and a believable storyline makes this a must read just wish there was more bt this author
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Overall an interesting and enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book reminded me a little of the 'Rama' series by Arthur C Clarke. Some of the bits regarding the breakdown of society were a little unrealistic, I think in reality that technology and society would break down far sooner than indicated. At one point near the end, with most people dying or dead from heat and lack of water, it seemed that the phone network was still working. In reality I'm sure all infrastructure would have failed long before with no one to maintain it. I like the idea of an Alien species rendezvous and sharing of technology. The end leaves scope for a further book, which I hope gets written.
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Mazza
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story - but with an abrupt ending
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
To be truthful, I thought I was reading maybe the second part of a scifi trilogy here (does this follow her earlier novel 'Distant Suns'? because I have not read that). 95% of this book had me rivetted, but the author obviously didn't know where to go with it, resulting in a very abrupt and disappointing ending.

The story centres around a disaster of magnitude, how it affects the world and the measures mankind takes to ensure its survival. With the end of the world nigh, 1500 people are chosen to board a starship that will take 4000 years to reach a habitable planet. Another large group are planning to survive in an underground bunker. Read on - I won't spoil the story, but would urge the author to rewrite the ending of this book, and then write a sequel which encompasses and expands the ideas in the final chapter.
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A. Rea
5.0 out of 5 stars a great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book, there are so many SF stories out there about wars etc., thank goodness this was not one of them.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars distant suns - page turner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
A great follow up book, even better than the first, surprising twists to the story. Can't wait for the next.
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