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Eric Klein
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The One: A Cruise Through the Solar System: Classic Style Science Fiction Kindle Edition

by Eric Klein (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.2 3.2 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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Winner of the 2018 Virtual Fantasycon Best Hard SciFi Novel.

A near-future story of exploration and intrigue.

"Sci-Fi like I grew up on: a near-future tale of solar-system-wide intrigue, done in the style of Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke."
-- Assaph Mehr, author of the award-winning author of Murder In Absentia

"This is very Kim Stanley Robinson-esque - very good!"
-- Jonathan Maas, award-winning author of Flare

"An inspiring journey in the future of human space travel."
-- Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli author of the Red Desert series


The year is 2152. What started as a normal work day for BJ Armstrong (debugging the latest faulty AI), quickly turned to the adventure of a lifetime. Join Armstrong on his all-expenses-paid 30-day cruise through the solar system on board the maiden voyage of the latest pleasure ship (complete with a beauty pageant and scientific symposium), as he tries to unravel an assassination plot and foil the biggest heist in history.

The only question that remains, will BJ get the girl?
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  1. Reading age
    11 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    218 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    5 - 12
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2018
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Sci-Fi like I grew up on: a near-future tale of solar-system-wide intrigue, done in the style of Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke."-- Assaph Mehr, author of the award-winning author of Murder In Absentia"This is very Kim Stanley Robinson-esque - very good!"-- Jonathan Maas, award-winning author of Flare"An inspiring journey in the future of human space travel."-- Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli author of the Red Desert series

From the Back Cover

A near-future story of exploration and intirgue

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B079P6NQ6T
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Purple Toga Publications; 1st edition (March 1, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10890 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 218 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.2 3.2 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

About the author

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Eric Klein

Eric Klein

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I am a lifelong science fiction and fantasy reader, but have always enjoyed those stories that show how the science and technology affect people’s lives.

Non-Fiction book chapters are on:

- Telecom/Technology Security - Telecom security 101: What You need to know

- Disaster Recovery - Disaster Recovery: Lessons Learned – A New York Minute

See my website for details about current and future plans and links to the various videos of my security talks.

Fiction:

- The One: A Cruise Through the Solar System

I have been dreaming of space ever since being woken up to watch the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing at 3 in the morning. The fact that as a three year old I demanded to be woken up (or that my parents actually did wake me) was not a surprise. You see I was watching the Original Star Trek TV series in color from the 9th episode because they had the audacity of starting to air the series before I was born. (Trivia fact: I was born on the day of the original airing of the episode Miri). I credit my love for all things Shakespearean to starting with the many references in Star Trek. A hint to these origins can be found by my use of the play Hamlet in space, similar to that used in the Star Trek episode “The Conscience of the King” in my first novel.

Customer reviews

3.2 out of 5 stars
3.2 out of 5
44 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Leland
4.0 out of 5 stars The One: A Homage to Science Fiction's Classics
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2018
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The One: A Cruise Through the Solar System has a surprisingly descriptive title. The tale follows protagonist BJ Armstrong on a miraculously consequential tour of the colonized solar system as what was meant to be a relaxing vacation becomes an unexpected adventure. A fast developing romance, sinister machinations, interplanetary rebels and unexpected enemies all play a part in BJ’s story as he discovers that he really is The One, fated to repeatedly be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

The structure and storytelling evoke science fiction classics of the pre-1960 era, but the science and social mores have been updated for the modern day. These were my favorite aspects of the tale; in particular, it’s obvious that a lot of research went into the creation of the terraformed worlds BJ visits.

If I had one complaint, it’s that The One feels like a story with a sharp twist in store for the reader–but that abrupt right turn never quite materializes. Nevertheless, it’s a fun, nostalgic read for fans of early science fiction storytelling.
3 people found this helpful
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Andy Zach
3.0 out of 5 stars Hard science fiction mystery and romance
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019
Author Eric Klein does a great job in his debut novel, 'The One'. Not only does he recreate the atmosphere of the 50s science fiction novels of my youth, but he adds in a novel-long mystery.

Main character BJ improbably wins a lottery prize which is an all-expenses-paid tour of the Solar System. Along the way, more improbable accidents and deliverances occur and the reader is left half wondering what's going on. This is while Klein delivers descriptions of the technology and society and the world in his novel.

On the ship are also Miss Universe contestants and a science symposium, leading to many amusing, ironic, and romantic encounters. Eric Klein does not fail to include homages and Easter eggs alluding to the luminaries of the Golden Age of science fiction as well.

The action increases to the end. Some plot threads are resolved, while others are left for the second volume, 'The Two'.

Add in a romance and there's plenty going on in this novel to satisfy the reader.
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TPO
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2018
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The cruise ship concept hooked me, however, story began to sour at the halfway mark. Hijack scheme seemed too ridiculous to me.
2 people found this helpful
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Jonathan Maas
5.0 out of 5 stars Hard SciFi with a Soft Edge - For fans of Arthur C. Clarke, Heinlein - perhaps even the Strugatsky Brothers
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2018
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Hard SciFi with a Soft Edge

This one is on may 'hard SciFi lists' - but it's holds a soft edge. What do I mean by this? Well this is not  Prisoners of Power  where there are blocks of unindented text, with difficult-to-understand themes.

This is more like  Kim Stanley Robinson  or  Arthur C. Clarke , where things are explained, and there is a plausible future history element to it all.

Though there is a voyage through space, I place it more on the Kim Stanley Robinson side of things - if you were actually in this tale, there would be an explanation for most everything. Arthur C. Clarke, and even  Robert Heinlein  to some extent, get to the point where the reader just has to believe it. That's their style, and it's great - oh and btw the Strugatsky brothers are great as well.

But Eric Klein here goes towards the Kim Stanley Robinson side of things. You want to pass by one of Jupiter's moons? Well - he'll tell you how to do it.

There's fiction here as well - and the clash of the  Titanic -style culture on the ship reminds me of the  Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1  episode - or was it  Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2 ? Regardless it reminds me of the episode The Royale.

In conclusion - it's a great book! You should check out The One - it's fictional, but we may all be living it one day!
7 people found this helpful
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Jacqueline C. Simonds
4.0 out of 5 stars Not-so-average mechanic/troubleshooter BJ Armstrong finds himself in extraordinary circumstances
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
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Not-so-average mechanic/troubleshooter BJ Armstrong finds himself in extraordinary circumstances the moment he stops the mayor’s toilets from becoming geysers. Winning a free, all-expenses-paid trip to tour the Solar System on a beautiful luxury spaceliner in the company of a beauty pageant and the System’s top experts in terraforming and exo-biology would be enough for anyone... but that’s just the start!

Inexplicable accidents, a perfect dance partner, tours to worlds being custom-fit for humankind, pirates (pirates?!), and a very helpful computer all feature in this romp through the solar system in a future not-so-far from now. It’s a space tour, it’s a love story, it’s a mystery, it’s an adventure! Strap on your spacesuit for the trip of a lifetime.

If you are looking for an old-school Sci-Fi read in the tradition of Heinlein, Asimov, or Clarke, you need look no further than Eric Klein’s The One: A Cruise Through the Solar System.
5 people found this helpful
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Ondrej Sklenicka
1.0 out of 5 stars Story was equaly bad.
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
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There is no depth in characters and their behaviour is very unbelievable. Story was equaly bad.
One person found this helpful
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Christina Enquist
3.0 out of 5 stars Love story in space. Like Pirates of the Caribbean in space.
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2018
This is a love story between Fay and BJ who meet on the LSS Venture. This was an interesting story. It was like Pirates of the Caribbean in space, with a bit of Miss Congeniality.

LIKED
I liked the various pictures that were included throughout the story.
The references to modern day people, movies like Star Wars, and books. It seemed like our present was altered.
I liked the storyline and the relationship between Fay and BJ Armstrong.

DISLIKED
There was a lot of telling. At times it felt like an educational book because of the detail put into informing the reader.
Too many characters were introduced toward the beginning.
I didn't feel like there was enough emotional depth. It seemed to be missing smell, sound, and taste? What did places smell like, sound like?
4 people found this helpful
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Daphne L Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read with an unexpected twist at
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2018
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The One truly takes you on a cruise through the solar system. BJ is a talented trouble shooter who is fixing the mayor's toilets one moment and has won a trip of a life time the next. The reader really does feel like they are on a cruise ship through space.
From the very beginning BJ knows something is not quite right but with the help of the captain's beautiful daughter Fay he is sure to figure it out.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Fabrice
5.0 out of 5 stars De l'excellente science fiction
Reviewed in France on January 20, 2023
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Je recommande fortement ce livre à tous les amateurs de hard sci-fi. C'est la croisière dans un système solaire terraformé la plus brillante que j'aie jamais lue. La recherche derrière le livre est immense, précise et approfondie, et j'ai énormément apprécié. C'est tellement agréable de lire un livre aussi documenté.

Les personnages sont sympathiques et bien décrits et je les ai appréciés. Je me suis projeté sans difficulté dans le personnage principal, BJ, et j'aurais définitivement aimé voyager avec lui à travers le système.

L'histoire est malheureusement plus faible dans un style des années 60. Elle n'est pas à la hauteur du fond et de la recherche derrière le livre.

En bref, si vous êtes un amateur de science-fiction réaliste, essayez-le. Il vaut vraiment votre temps ! !!
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BEEJ
4.0 out of 5 stars Trip of a lifetime
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2018
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Review of The One by Eric Klein
The maiden voyage of the epitome of luxury cruise liners and this one is interplanetary not ocean going. Add to this a collection of most beautiful women in the solar system, all the experts from the field of terraforming and the cherry on the top, a free first class ticket for a trip around the settled worlds and colonies. Our hero has to be one of the luckiest men on Earth.
This is a speculation of what man may achieve in the not too distant future and the Science Fiction stays relatively close to current fact and research. It is also a romance and a thriller which spans the habitable parts of our home star system. You do not need to be a tech nerd to enjoy this book as the author is generous with the background and explanation of the technology and soon you will be as comfortable as the main characters with everyday life on board a luxury space cruiser.
The story moves at a pleasing pace with enough surprises to keep the interest high and in most cases, the background information doesn’t interfere with the narrative.
So welcome aboard for the trip of a lifetime and unlike the passengers you don’t even have to put up with the petty bureaucracy of immigration and passport control.
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Norman Turrell
4.0 out of 5 stars Warning: Classic sci-fi ‘info-dump’
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2018
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The author has done his research in presenting this offering. The travels of the protagonist--BJ--on his solar system holiday provide a vehicle, not only for his adventure/mystery/romance storyline but also to impart a huge amount of historical/technological information and speculation on the future possibilities of science, including the fascinating terraforming our neighbouring worlds. This follows a style of classic sci-fi where imparting information is at least as important as story.

Exposition on this scale is not for the light reader. To make the most of this book you'll need to be prepared to take your time and absorb the data provided, possibly referring to the extensive resources in the appendices as you go.

For me, I found the plot a bit simplistic--more of a space-romp--but I think this may have been an intentional homage to the specific sub-type of the genre. The attention to detail in the factual sections overflowed into the narrative, making the delivery dry at times and hampering the pace.

I recommend this for any hard-core sci-fi fans out there whose hearts quicken when presented with detailed technical schematics.
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Nils Ödlund
4.0 out of 5 stars Many interesting ideas
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2019
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This is the kind of book you read for the way it explores the ideas of traveling through the solar system on a leisure cruiser space ship. A lot of effort has been put into the technical details, and there's even a lengthy appendix at the end explaining them further, along with a list of sources. In fact, the story itself only takes up about 75% of the book.
It's good food for thought, and if you're interested in that kind of thing, you'll probably love this book.

Unfortunately, the story itself doesn't quite reach the same level of quality. It serves well as a vessel through which to present the ideas of the book, but on its own it's a bit thin.

If you're a fan of hard sci-fi, and if you're interested in what a colonized version of the solar system might look like, and what it might be to travel between the colonies, give this book a go.
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