The Terrans (First Salik War Book 1)

Jacaranda MacKenzie has done her dash in Earth's Space Force protecting Earth against the advanced alien race called the Greys on boarder control, then she spent years as a local councillor for her government, and now works a nice quiet cushy job as a highly sought after language translator and plans to keep it that way – nice and quiet. What more could a strong psychic female need, right?Well it was all working out for her until she is called back into active duty as commander of the new space ship Aloha 9 on a mission for interstellar exploration. Only there is a catch – Earth's top psychic seers all had visions of this trip being a major step in first contact, not only with a new enemy that likes to eat sentient flesh for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also with another race who look exactly like Earth's humans.And sure enough, on their first trip out, Jacaranda's ship gets attacked by air breathing squid-like aliens and in the process of trying to find out how to get free, Jacaranda discovers five human minds being held in cages in the bowels of the enemy ship. Using her kick arse psychic skills she frees the very naked prisoners, gets everyone free of the Salik enemy ship and discovers just how gruesome Alien Octopus minds can be.The Terrans is a first contact science fiction story that is based 300 years before Ia's story in 'A Soldier's Duty' where the second Salik war starts and ends. It tells of how Earth connects again with an off shoot of humans who have spent 10000 years living and developing on a separate planet. The V'Dan's and The Alliance have technology and experience that Earth doesn't and Earth has technology and almost instant communications that the Alliance needs. This becomes the deciding factor in a joint effort to get these two cousin races together with Jacaranda and her team right smack bang in the middle.It also happens that Li’eth Ma’an-uq’en, the handsome V'Dan captain rescued from the Salik ship is a major hottie and an emerging psychic himself. He needs Jacaranda's help developing his skills and training his mind to strengthen his control. He also happens to be very important to the visions that not only Earth's seers have seen, but also V'Dan's Prophetic scriptures write of.The First Salik War Series isn't like Theirs Not to Reason Why Series. Yes it is based in the same science fiction universe but, as the author indicates at the beginning of the first book, The Terrans isn't so heavy on the Military and Space Battles as it is on the relationship between two races and their alliances, and two humans from the opposite sides of space. There is more politics in this than the first series and the quarantine section gets a little boring at times. I also feel like this series bases its understanding of politics and history and alien encounters on Theirs Not to Reason Why series as there is a lacking in the mind sets and descriptions of the Salik etc.I enjoyed both this book and the second in the series 'The V'Dan' and am looking forward to the third in the series. Actually I'm desperate to find out what happens to these two star crossed lovers in the third book as I'd like to get to sleep again without worrying about the predicaments they find themselves in at the end of The V'Dan.4.5 stars out of 5 for The Terrans and 5 stars for The V'Dan. I enjoyed the second book better.

THE TERRANS chronicles the Human (Terran) race as it simultaneously encounters both a vile alien enemy, the Salik, and a previously unknown branch of humanity, the V’Dan.Think about that for a second.Recently having discovered (something like) wormhole technology and setting out to explore formerly beyond reach areas of space, the ALOHA 9 and crew are forcibly dragged into the hull of an enemy vessel full of grotesque amphibian-like aliens . . . Grotesque amphibious aliens who delight in eating live . . . sentient prey . . . o.OWhile trying to gage their situation, the Commanding Officer, a gifted telepath (among other things), encounters five human minds being held in cages for such a purpose, and, determined to rescue them, begins a series of events that will reunite their peoples, and, hopefully, give them the means to defeat an enemy that neither could defend against alone.*resists urge to sing Kumbaya*HA. But seriously, how cool is that? At the risk of invoking one Farscape analogy too many, John Crichton and Aeryn Sun, anyone? Peacekeepers, V’Dan . . . Similar concept.Similar, but different.In this world, the relocation of humans is still an attempt to preserve a portion of humanity, but this time it seems to be a specific religious sect being preserved and the means of relocation some nebulous time-traveling alien.I'm sure we'll learn more about it later, or maybe the details are recorded somewhere in Theirs Not to Reason Why , the series this trilogy is prequel to. <------good time to mention that I have not read those books, and I did not feel like I was missing anything.SO. Really cool idea, and mostly well executed.The book can be broken down into roughly equal thirds:1. The Encounter – High octane action. Tunneling through space, owning hostile aliens, finding HUMANS on the other side of the galaxy, I loved it. Tore through the pages.2. Quarantine – Less action, more relationship growth. A lot of world-building took place masquerading as getting-to-know-you. I thought it was cleverly done, and, overall, liked this section too. BUT. Seeds for a major discovery were being sown, so when said discovery was made and met with various denials and attempts to circumvent, I was annoyed b/c we'd already learned that when it happens, there's no undoing it.3. Diplomacy – About as action-packed as it sounds. I really appreciated what Johnson did with her world’s government, which was basically to create a new one in which the leadership is legitimately held directly accountable by the people. BUT. This section was almost entirely politics and the aforementioned attempts at denial.It should be noted that Johnson states in her author’s note that this series is a First Contact series vs the heavy military science fiction of THEIRS NOT TO REASON WHY, and that this is only the first act of a three-part play, with most of the action being held in reserve for the final installment.That being said, I felt it started with a bang and ended with a fizzle.BUT.Overall, I still very much enjoyed THE TERRANS, the first installment of Jean Johnson’s FIRST SALIK WAR trilogy, and I'll definitely read the next book and the other series besides. That pretty much says it all, does it not? Recommended.

I hesitated to read this book. I read the other series first and wasn't sure about "going back in time". I am glad I did. I love the characters and the story. I am about to start the 2nd book in this series and hope there will be further books about the world created by the author - possibly post the "Theirs not to Reason Why" books.

This is the second book in this series and was also a Fantastic read, I think this is better than the "There's is not to reason why" series which I have read that series at least four times now.Eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. The First Salik series defiantly shaping up to be one to keep and be read again and again.

I thought there was too much detail but not a bad book I did enjoy reading it but it could have been better

Jean Johnson is an excellent writer and this is the start of another cracking trilogy.

Another great book, from an author I love