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Beacon 23 #3
Bounty
I live in a tin can out on the edge of sector eight. Not much is supposed to happen here. Ships are supposed to fly by at twenty times the speed of light. My beacon is supposed to keep them safe.
Things don't always go like they're supposed to.
Things don't always go like they're supposed to.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2015
About the author
Hugh Howey
127 books55.7k followersI'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 13, 2017
Damn ninjas... Damn ninjas... Never trust them! Never!
(Not as fucked-up as other #, but still expect some bat-shit crazy stuff. Loved it!)
(Not as fucked-up as other #, but still expect some bat-shit crazy stuff. Loved it!)
August 17, 2015
This lonely and conflicted beacon operator is a magnet for strange things. The pet rock was a bit disturbing, but this episode is nearly a comedy routine. I loved the story, don't get me wrong, and it's not a humorous story. But really, look at the characters. Three bounty hunters, one lighthouse keeper, an ex-girlfriend, and a mutant cat. Nice work, Hugh. I like it.
July 22, 2015
Didn't enjoy quite as much as the first two, but things really went sideways from the direction I thought the story was heading.
November 15, 2016
This book is essentially about PTSD. It just so happens to be that the PTSD afflicting this solider is from a war in the distant future, which affects the whole galaxy.
It's a question of committing or not committing genocide to end that war. And the cost of action or inaction.
The above doesn't sound like a compelling and occasionally funny read - but it is.
It's one of those books that gives you pause. A book that you will come back to and re-read when the time is right.
I've read a few memoirs of soldiers, one in particular by a Captain deployed in the Iraq war and the similarities of experience were remarkable. The level of emotional research Hugh Howey has done shows and is worth everything.
It's a brilliant piece of writing and an utterly brilliant, and heartbreaking book.
It's a question of committing or not committing genocide to end that war. And the cost of action or inaction.
The above doesn't sound like a compelling and occasionally funny read - but it is.
It's one of those books that gives you pause. A book that you will come back to and re-read when the time is right.
I've read a few memoirs of soldiers, one in particular by a Captain deployed in the Iraq war and the similarities of experience were remarkable. The level of emotional research Hugh Howey has done shows and is worth everything.
It's a brilliant piece of writing and an utterly brilliant, and heartbreaking book.
November 26, 2015
I love Hugh Howey!
August 5, 2024
Pretty solid entry in this collection. Loved the exploration more into his mental state and PTSD and what went on with his past.
The side characters in this one were pretty funny too
The side characters in this one were pretty funny too
July 28, 2015
The anxiety is amping up as we get further into the story. Keep it coming, Hugh!
September 21, 2017
This is a very short third chapter of a longer story, rather than a complete story, and the ending leaves you hanging without a true ending (similar to the first one). Unlike previous Howey works I have enjoyed, there’s a lot of rough language that really detracts the reader, and it’s not just up to the previous standard Howey established. I picked this up for free with Kindle Unlimited – if I had paid the 99 cents (pricing for this episode as I type this review) I’d want my money back as it is fairly incomplete.
February 19, 2017
Probably the weakest of the three I've read so far. I enjoyed it but it felt inconsistent, as if Howey wasn't sure to make this a comic episode or give it more meat, especially early on. That said, it was still a fun read.
June 18, 2017
Hugh Howey is getting close to becoming a favorite of mine. I just recently started reading his writing and I am completely hooked. Everything is just so clever and odd. Look forward toward reading more of his work.
October 21, 2018
Interesting series that makes you think. Not everything is what it seems.
March 5, 2022
That was startling! Dying to know what happens next 😥
December 21, 2023
#️⃣2️⃣ Little Noises 🙉
#️⃣1️⃣ Pet Rocks 🪨
#️⃣4️⃣ Bounty 🕴🏻
#️⃣3️⃣ Company 🐆
#️⃣5️⃣ Visitor 🤯
#️⃣1️⃣ Pet Rocks 🪨
#️⃣4️⃣ Bounty 🕴🏻
#️⃣3️⃣ Company 🐆
#️⃣5️⃣ Visitor 🤯
January 26, 2024
Bit of a step down from the first two…hopefully next installment is stronger.
6.5 sneaky ninja bounty hunters out of 10
6.5 sneaky ninja bounty hunters out of 10
March 17, 2024
Great, can't wait to see what happens.
February 28, 2017
Cricket! These short storeis are billiant. The characters are so well developed. But Cricket is my favorite thing about them.
February 28, 2017
3.5/5
Unoriginal in the sense that it reminds me so much of Ender's game.
Unoriginal in the sense that it reminds me so much of Ender's game.
August 25, 2015
Check out my Booklikes Blog, Dang Rover: Cover to Cover
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Hugh Howey knows how to tell all story, that's for sure.
So, I don't do serials well. I read the first installment, thought it was great, then waited until they were all published. I read them all as one book, so I'm going to review them all as one book.
The blurbs on the 5 installments say this book is about a guy manning a Beacon in a remote sector of space. Think a space light house, warning ships traveling through hyperspace of an asteroid field they need to avoid if they don't want to crash and die. He's all alone. Like really, really alone. Is something bad going to happen? Uh...duh.
That's what you learn about by reading the outside of the book. But it's not what you read on the inside of the book...
Well, okay--not true. That stuff does happen. But that is NOT what Beacon 23 is about.
This is a very strong, character-driven story about a guy and his demons--with a strong dose of war-sucks-but-violence-is-sometimes-necessary-for-peace message. It gets pretty deep and pretty dark. Certainly not a popcorn read. I didn't particularly enjoy reading Beacon--there isn't much joy to be found. But there is a strong message here, and I suspect there will be many, many people who find they can relate to the path the hero must follow as he struggles with his demons, learns to deal with them, and finds a measure of peace in the end. He doesn't excise his demons, I think this guy's path is too true to life to give him a Disneyland ending. But that's exactly what makes this story accessible.
You might enjoy Hugh's own thoughts on the series here.
Watch out for the swearing. Hugh Howey isn't shy. These guys swear like soldiers--but that's because they are.
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Hugh Howey knows how to tell all story, that's for sure.
So, I don't do serials well. I read the first installment, thought it was great, then waited until they were all published. I read them all as one book, so I'm going to review them all as one book.
The blurbs on the 5 installments say this book is about a guy manning a Beacon in a remote sector of space. Think a space light house, warning ships traveling through hyperspace of an asteroid field they need to avoid if they don't want to crash and die. He's all alone. Like really, really alone. Is something bad going to happen? Uh...duh.
That's what you learn about by reading the outside of the book. But it's not what you read on the inside of the book...
Well, okay--not true. That stuff does happen. But that is NOT what Beacon 23 is about.
This is a very strong, character-driven story about a guy and his demons--with a strong dose of war-sucks-but-violence-is-sometimes-necessary-for-peace message. It gets pretty deep and pretty dark. Certainly not a popcorn read. I didn't particularly enjoy reading Beacon--there isn't much joy to be found. But there is a strong message here, and I suspect there will be many, many people who find they can relate to the path the hero must follow as he struggles with his demons, learns to deal with them, and finds a measure of peace in the end. He doesn't excise his demons, I think this guy's path is too true to life to give him a Disneyland ending. But that's exactly what makes this story accessible.
You might enjoy Hugh's own thoughts on the series here.
Watch out for the swearing. Hugh Howey isn't shy. These guys swear like soldiers--but that's because they are.
July 27, 2015
Another winning series from Hugh Howey
I waited until I finished the last of the (currently) three shorts of the Bounty series. This is Hugh's most promising series since Wool. I have read all of Hugh's work including the more recent Sand series. Although Sand had much to admire, it did not capture the same type of magic for me that Wool did.
Like Wool and Sand for that matter, Hugh uses confinement in small or restrictive spaces as a character itself. In Bounty, the small place happens to be a gravity warp beacon deep in outer space. One individual lives there to assure that the "lighthouse" that guides passing star ships through safe "waters" runs and operates smoothly. Thus begins the backdrop for three short serials and an engaging, often humorous and increasingly addictive series.
I won't go into further detail since the stories are so short you can read them faster than I could write a proper review. Although each story can live on its own, you will find yourself inhaling them all in short order.
As book three closes, it is hard to believe that this would be the last of them. I think we got ourselves another Hugh classic.
Come on Hugh keep them coming!
I waited until I finished the last of the (currently) three shorts of the Bounty series. This is Hugh's most promising series since Wool. I have read all of Hugh's work including the more recent Sand series. Although Sand had much to admire, it did not capture the same type of magic for me that Wool did.
Like Wool and Sand for that matter, Hugh uses confinement in small or restrictive spaces as a character itself. In Bounty, the small place happens to be a gravity warp beacon deep in outer space. One individual lives there to assure that the "lighthouse" that guides passing star ships through safe "waters" runs and operates smoothly. Thus begins the backdrop for three short serials and an engaging, often humorous and increasingly addictive series.
I won't go into further detail since the stories are so short you can read them faster than I could write a proper review. Although each story can live on its own, you will find yourself inhaling them all in short order.
As book three closes, it is hard to believe that this would be the last of them. I think we got ourselves another Hugh classic.
Come on Hugh keep them coming!
July 28, 2015
This section of the novel starts off with a summary of events that have elapsed since the last section of the book that we haven't witnessed. There's a few good jokes, and as always a strong atmosphere of loneliness and dread. The excitement picks up when three bounty hunters show up all looking for some girl the narrator says he's never seen He sends them on their way, and that's that.
Only it's not. Turns out he does know the girl, she's on the ship, and she's going to spew out a bunch of back story and something that sounds an awful lot like your generic "this guy's destined to save the world" prophecy.
Luckily the section ends well, and I have hope that the nonsense the female character was blabbering about ends up just being an ironic bump in the story, because the fun of this book has been that it's not your typical story. Yes, it needs a plot (which there hasn't exactly been yet, but it's been moving), but the narrator saving the galaxy from itself isn't it. This story needs something more personal, more smaller scale, and I'm hoping Hugh gives us that, but we'll see where he goes with it as future installments come out.
Only it's not. Turns out he does know the girl, she's on the ship, and she's going to spew out a bunch of back story and something that sounds an awful lot like your generic "this guy's destined to save the world" prophecy.
Luckily the section ends well, and I have hope that the nonsense the female character was blabbering about ends up just being an ironic bump in the story, because the fun of this book has been that it's not your typical story. Yes, it needs a plot (which there hasn't exactly been yet, but it's been moving), but the narrator saving the galaxy from itself isn't it. This story needs something more personal, more smaller scale, and I'm hoping Hugh gives us that, but we'll see where he goes with it as future installments come out.
August 2, 2015
In the third part the series, which will eventually be collected as one book, gets even better. This part is more action oriented than the previous ones and we get introduced to several new characters. Along with the action we get in this one we also get a bit more information as to what is happening in the wider universe that this takes place in. The new information is intriguing and I hope we get to see and learn more about it as we go, We also learn a considerable bit more about our main character. Bits about his past come to light as well as how they effect his present.
I am a little interested to see how this would all read as a single book once Howey is done writing all the parts. While separate they read just fine, all together I think it might be a bit more disjointed. It's a minor issue though as so far all the parts have been entertaining and you can tell that Howey is enjoying writing this series.
I am a little interested to see how this would all read as a single book once Howey is done writing all the parts. While separate they read just fine, all together I think it might be a bit more disjointed. It's a minor issue though as so far all the parts have been entertaining and you can tell that Howey is enjoying writing this series.
February 24, 2016
I'll provide the same review for each of Beacon 23's five parts.
Hugh Howey established himself with Wool. I count Wool as one of my favorite pieces of sci-fi. It was compelling, utterly original and, dare I say, groundbreaking (figuratively and literally). I've followed Howey since but never found his output to be nearly as compelling as Wool. Until now. The Beacon 23 stories - that together form a wonderful novel - are so wonderful, so heartfelt, so funny, and human that it's virtually impossible not to embrace and love them. This is old-school, character driven science fiction that truly revitalized my interest in the genre.
Hugh Howey established himself with Wool. I count Wool as one of my favorite pieces of sci-fi. It was compelling, utterly original and, dare I say, groundbreaking (figuratively and literally). I've followed Howey since but never found his output to be nearly as compelling as Wool. Until now. The Beacon 23 stories - that together form a wonderful novel - are so wonderful, so heartfelt, so funny, and human that it's virtually impossible not to embrace and love them. This is old-school, character driven science fiction that truly revitalized my interest in the genre.
October 23, 2016
I live in a tin can on the edge of sector eight, and my job is to keep bad things from happening.
But sometimes you can't - because bad things don't just come in threes, they just keep coming and we count them in threes so we have time to breathe between them. In this instalment, our not-so-hero has 3 bounty hunters visit, looking for a woman who he says he has never seen.
Only he has - in fact she is a woman he has loved, still loves perhaps. And she gets us the story of what actually happened to our narrator in the war that ripped him open and sent him plummeting towards PTSD, and to the tin-can in which he now sits, far above the world...
But sometimes you can't - because bad things don't just come in threes, they just keep coming and we count them in threes so we have time to breathe between them. In this instalment, our not-so-hero has 3 bounty hunters visit, looking for a woman who he says he has never seen.
Only he has - in fact she is a woman he has loved, still loves perhaps. And she gets us the story of what actually happened to our narrator in the war that ripped him open and sent him plummeting towards PTSD, and to the tin-can in which he now sits, far above the world...
August 17, 2015
And this is where I will stop reading. I read the other 2 parts of this 5 part series and I must say this is a pretty boring series. Howey is all over the place with this story and never brings anything together. I don't know what people see in this series, but it is not that exciting - nothing close to Wool. I gave the first two a chance, even after the talking talk in Pet Rock. But the plot keeps bouncing all over the place, so I'm glad I only had to shell out $3 total for these short works, because it wouldn't have been worth another $2 for the next two parts...
September 7, 2015
Things are just starting to go back to routine for our trusty operator of Beacon 23 at the beginning of Bounty... and then the best-laid plans of the solitude-seeking war veteran are disrupted by the arrival of three bounty hunters. This is the most comedic volume of the series, with dialog and plot that would be at home at the edge of Serenity's 'Verse. Hugh Howey starts to give away that this isn't just a wisecracking, only-for-fun series with hints of much meatier plot and themes to come, as past and future converge on the lonely beacon at the edge of space.
February 5, 2017
I dint get it... Am I not reading it right? Why is the author taking such a confusing approach to this story?
July 20, 2015
Bad Things Always Come in Threes
Part 3 dives a little deeper into the mind of our lonely and partially insane beacon operator. As a group bounty hunters poke and prod for information on their target, secrets about our "hero's?" past begin to unfold themselves. It's so lonely in space until a Ding-Dong breaks the silence. Ready for Part 4 and beyond. Keep them coming, Hugh!
Part 3 dives a little deeper into the mind of our lonely and partially insane beacon operator. As a group bounty hunters poke and prod for information on their target, secrets about our "hero's?" past begin to unfold themselves. It's so lonely in space until a Ding-Dong breaks the silence. Ready for Part 4 and beyond. Keep them coming, Hugh!
September 12, 2015
Hugh does it again!
The guy writes like we are in conversation with one another about topics that everyone knows, but in situations we can only imagine - with his help. But never in pandering detail and never with overly lengthy "back story." Like the best fiction, he trusts that his readers have the capacity to fill in the gaps ourselves.
The guy writes like we are in conversation with one another about topics that everyone knows, but in situations we can only imagine - with his help. But never in pandering detail and never with overly lengthy "back story." Like the best fiction, he trusts that his readers have the capacity to fill in the gaps ourselves.
August 23, 2015
I'm finding that Mr. Howey's short form fiction is very, very good. I know he's been working on it lately and maybe that explains what he's put out recently. No matter the reason behind it, I have to hope that when the Hugos come around next year I remember some of these gems he's given me already this year.
April 20, 2022
Vote: 4,00
Class: L-A3 (FP)
(third out of five of the Beacon 23 Series)
The story goes on in this very character driven sc-fi novel where our protagonist is spending his life (mostly) alone in a remote corner of the universe.
This time his corner is very much crowded...
As always the writing is really good!
I'll follow up with the series.
Class: L-A3 (FP)
(third out of five of the Beacon 23 Series)
The story goes on in this very character driven sc-fi novel where our protagonist is spending his life (mostly) alone in a remote corner of the universe.
This time his corner is very much crowded...
As always the writing is really good!
I'll follow up with the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews