By Sound Alone

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

"Like Serenity on a submarine..."

The surface of the ocean has become a contested place. International shipping is forced undersea, carried out by submarines fitted for transporting cargo. Captain Sylvia Percy and her small crew run one such boat, theProspect. They fight a daily battle to keep their rusting sub from dropping into the depths. It's just another grimy job until they find themselves pursued by a military submarine driven by some inexplicable violent purpose. To survive, the crew of theProspectpush the machine that is their home to the very edge of its capabilities, while still trying to make their delivery on time.

Try a spoonful of realism mixed into your speculative fiction.By Sound Aloneis derived from science fiction themes but never deviates from a commitment to painstakingly-researched, realistic mid-century submarine mechanics and operations. With a heritage that is equal parts 1970s trucker culture and 1960s submarine movie,By Sound Alonerevels in the power of confined spaces and dangerous operations that have always been the meat of compelling submarine stories. But it also breaks new ground with a setting of a fictional world where cargo submarines are a critical part of global logistics networks. It's a gripping grimepunk tale, propelled through a cinematic environment from which you will not want to surface.(Note: This 120k-word story is already complete and available as a free e-book under a Creative Commons license at:bysoundalone.net(epub, mobi, html, pdf, etc). So have no fear of being left hanging!)

Information

Status
Completed
Year
2024

Royal Road Stats

Rating
5.0/ 5.0
Followers
8
Views
13,157

Chapters(50 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(1)

  • The_EnderwolfRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    It’s been a bit since I read it but going back and giving it a review.
    It was a really good story, the setting was honestly really unique, I don’t think I’ve come across another similar story since nor before. In a way I wish there was more because of how unique everything was but it’s was a satisfying ending for the story. Everything in the novel’s world just kinda clicked, made sense, and had unique combat moments, chase scenes and whatnot.
    The whole story is a very pleasant surprise that you probably won’t expect, at the very least won’t expect for a couple of scenes. But everything had a gritty nature to it and a setting that felt so alive. If you are ever slightly curious by diesel punk or steampunk or any other ___punk or similar genres, you’ll definitely find enjoyment in this. In a way think of Mad Max meets submarines and naval combat and smuggling operations. Not probably the best nor most accurate picture to paint but enough to get your mind on track ish.
    But just, overall, everything felt real and right or at least how I’d expect things to go.
    I guess slightly spoiler to explain but lightly spoilery ish:
    The way combat or fleeing had to worry about scraping the bottom or hitting objects and leaks or patching the hull to many other things, cargo cranes to hitting docks, it just all felt right.
    Overall just really give it a chance, it’s worth it