I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel.

Jeff Pepper’s written an interesting rebuke to the comparatively more Utopian Star Trek take on diplomacy—Ascent to the Sun is foremost a story about negotiation, and how a tribe of humans from across the stars attempt to make peace and colonize a new world. However, rather than mediating this conflict from a neutral spaceship, they are instead thrown into the thick of it, down into the dirt with the wolves, and their own survival is at stake. And, unlike Star Trek, these humans set their own interests first; there is no federated galactic order. Speaking as a human, I appreciated that.

It’s a realistic take on cooperation that treats it as a means, not an ends. In that sense, it carves out an interesting space between the most war-mongering and most pacifist science-fiction stories.

This is also a story about cultural exchange and exploration of exotic new environs. There’s plenty of mysteries to unravel on this alien world full of towering flora: How does the Waya reproductive cycle work? How does a world so rich in plant life maintain homeostasis? What’s the history of the mysterious angels in the silva? Pepper builds a world full of mysteries and gets to them all, and for those with an interest in biology especially, the book is rewarding.

I especially liked how the story unfolds the human-AI relationship, stipulating an at-times fraught, at-times symbiotic relationship between humankind and their most powerful creation, the AI called Ship, who is equal parts leader, servant, mother, and general. Without giving away too much, the most interesting lesson I took from Ascent to the Sun is that having a powerful AI on your side might be a necessary tool, though Ascent is relatively sanguine on the question of its alignment: Ship’s morality may at times be gray, but her ultimate goal is the establishment and expansion of a human colony, and she’s fixed on that goal at all times.

If you like exploration, alien cultures, and want a grounded science-fiction take on diplomacy, this is a good read, where the author stays true to every faction’s interests and does justice to the complexity of each character’s motives.

– Casey Matthews, author of the "Wind and Shadow" series

I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced story. The characters were well developed and very interesting. I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the world that the story took place in too! Enjoy!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

– Bookish on Goodreads, 65 previous reviews

This was a fast paced and fun read! The world building was fantastic, and I was interested to learn all about the creatures on the alien planet. The author put a significant amount of time into the customs and culture (and language!) of the alien races of the book, and the explanations are interesting and well integrated into the story.

A couple of times, it was best for me to suspend my disbelief when I found myself questioning just how the 17 ship-born kid knew what a Mexican standoff was, or a business suit – etc. But in the end, I just thought the story was a fun read, and I needed to know what was going to happen at the end! I’ll certainly read more from this author in the future!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

– Heather on Goodreads, 100 previous reviews

If you are a fan of E. R. Burroughs you will like this book. It has a Burroughs like read concerning the evolution of man and animal. Unlike Burroughs, there are a lot more imaginative twists and a much more modern flair with our ever increasing knowledge and technology.

The current concepts of fluid morality and the creation of an AI god in our own image is reflective of this day and age and the not too distant future.

– Glenn on Goodreads

This book was a new author to me and I was not sure what to expect from it, however I absolutely loved the story, which is about a 17 year old boy called Ricky and a 17 year old girl called Marta, they were taken on a ship as embryos’ and eventually the ship incubated and hatched them, takes care in a machine way and then helps them. There are however an alien people who are of a primitive but intelligent species and conflict previously saw the first group killed. When a plague threatens the survival of the group however, the humans and the aliens come together and in doing so learn a secret about the world where a third alien group have been changing the planet. Yet it all comes together smoothly and it’s a super fun read, very intriguing.

– Cheryl Davis on Goodreads, 217 previous reviews

Jeff Pepper has written a fascinating book with cultural, religious, and environmental themes that are at once new and yet sadly familiar. Sadly, because issues of deep-seated misogyny and mistrust between humans and another species on an alien world are also issues between our single species on Earth today. BTW … this alien world is possibly the most alien I’ve encountered as a reader. This world is covered by trees three miles high. And the trees play a pivotal role in the exciting denouement.

Between moments that careen from thrilling, to shocking, to deadly, “Ascent to the Sun” is a book for readers who want to be challenged to think as they read.

– Russ on Goodreads